THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

RIVERSIDE 


STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 

DEPARTMENT  OF  REGISTRATION  AND  EDUCATION 
FRANCIS  W.  SHEPARDSON,  DIRECTOR 

DIVISION  OP  THE 
NATURAL,  HISTORY  SURVEY 


THE  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 


STEPHEN  ALFRED  FORBES,  PH.D.,  LL.D. 

AND 

ROBERT  EARL  RICHARDSON,  A.M. 


SECOND  EDITION,  1920 

PUBLISHED  BY 

AUTHORITY   OF   THE    STATE   OF   ILLINOIS 


STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 
NATURAL  HISTORY  SURVEY  DIVISION 

STEPHEN  A.  FORBES,  CHIEF 


BOARD  OF  NATURAL  RESOURCES  AND  CONSERVATION 

WILLIAN  TRELEASE. Biology 

JOHN  M.  COULTER       .:....      Forestry 

ROLLIN  D.  SALISBURY Geology 

WILLIAM  A.  NOTES Chemistry 

JOHN  W.  ALVORD Engineering 

KENDRIC  C.  BABCOCK  .        .        .       University  of  Illinois 
FRANCIS  W.  SHEPARDSON  .  Director 


FRANK  0.  LOWDEN,  GOVERNOR 


SPRINGFIELD,  ILL. 

ILLINOIS  STATE  JOURNAL  Co.,  STATE  PRINTERS 
1920 


CONTENTS* 

PAGE 

Introduction xiii 

The  Topography  and  Hydrography  of  Illinois xvii 

The  Northwestern  Uriglaciated  Area xviii 

The  Areas  of  lowan  and  Illinoisan  Drift xix 

The  Area  of  the  Wisconsin  Drift xxi 

The  Unglaciated  Southern  Area xxii 

The  River  Systems xxiii 

Rock  River  System xxiii 

Rock  River xxiv 

Pecatonica  River xxvii 

Kishwaukee  River xxvii 

Green  River xxviii 

The  Northwestern  Area xxix 

Galena  River xxx 

Apple  River xxx 

Plum  River xxxi 

The  Mississippi  Bluff  Drainage xxxi 

Edwards  River xxxi 

Pope  Creek xxxii 

Henderson  River xxxii 

Bear  Creek xxxii 

Bay  Creek xxxii 

Cahokia  River xxxiii 

Illinois  River  System xxxiii 

Des  Plaines  River xxxiv 

Kankakee  River xxxvi 

Iroquois  River xxxviii 

Illinois  River xxxviii 

Fox  River xlvii 

Vermilion  River xlix 

Mackinaw  River 

Spoon  River 

Sangamon  River lii 

Salt  Creek liii 

Crooked  Creek liii 

Apple  Creek 

Macoupin  Creek lv 

Kaskaskia  River  System lv 

Kaskaskia  River Ivi 

Shoal  Creek Ivii 

Silver  Creek Iviii 

Big  Muddy  River  System lix 

*For  species  whose  page  numbers  are  preceded  by  a  star  (*)  there  are  distribution  maps 
in  the  atlas  accompanying  this  report. 


1Y  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

PAGE 

The  Wabash  System  ......................................  1* 

Wabash  River  .........................................  «? 

Vermilion  River  ...................................... 

Little  Vermilion  River  ................................ 

Embarras  River  .........  .  ............................  lxiv 

Little  Wabash  River  ..................................  Ixv 

Saline  River  System  ...............  .......................  Ixvi 

Cache  River  .............................................  Ixvin 

Big  Bay  Creek  ...........................................  Ifix 

The  Lake  Michigan  Drainage  .............................. 

On  the  General  and  Interior  Distribution  of  Illinois  Fishes  .........  Ixxii 

The  General  Distribution  ...................................  Ixxiv 

The  Interior  Distribution  ....................................  Ixxxiii 

The  Illinois  Basin  and  the  other  Districts  compared  ...........  xci 

Relations  of  each  District  to  all  the  others  ...................  xcviii 

The  Fishes  of  Northern,  Central,  and  Southern  Illinois  ........  c 

Use  of  Locality  Maps  .................................  •  •  •  •  cnl 

Peculiarities  of  Distribution  in  the  Lower  Illinoisan  Glaciation  .  civ 

Classification  and  Use  of  Ecological  Data  .......  .............  cyii 

Fishes  of  the  Ohio  and  of  the  Mississippi  Drainage.  .  .  .  cviii 

Boundary  between  Northern  and  Southern  Species  ............  ex 

General  Features  of  Ecological  Distribution  ..................  cxi 

Ecological  Table  ..........................................  cxiv 

General  Summary  ..........................................  cxix 

The  Fisheries  of  Illinois  ..........................  .............  cxxiii 

Explanation  of  Terms  used  .....................................  cxxviii 

Glossary  of  Technical  Terms  ...................................  cxxxi 

Key  to  the  Families  of  Illinois  Fishes  ........................... 

Class  Marsipobranchii  ........................................  5 

Order  Hyperoartii  ...........................  ...............  5 

Family  Petromyzonidse.     Lampreys  ..................  .  ......  5 

Genus  Ichthyomyzon  Girard  ............................. 

I.  concolor  (Kirtland).    Silvery  Lamprey  ................  9 

Genus  Lampetra  Gray  .............  .....................  11 

L.  wilderi  Gage.    Brook  Lamprey  ......................  11 

I)   Class  Pisces  ..................................................  13 

15 


amily  Polyodontidse.    Paddle-fishes  ........................ 

Genus  Polyodon  Lace"p£de  ...............................  16 

P.  spathula  (Walbaum).     Paddle-fish  ...................  16 

^rder.Clioiidrostel.  .  .............  ........................... 

Family  Acipenseridse.    Sturgeons  ........................... 

Genus  Acipenser  Linnaeus  ............................... 

A.  rubicundus  Le  Sueur.    Lake  Sturgeon  ................  24 

Genus  Scaphirhynchus  Heckel  ............................ 

S.  platorhynchus  (Rafinesque).    Shovel-nosed  Sturgeon  .....  27 

Genus  Parascaphirhynchus  Forbes  &  Richardson  ...........  28 

P.  albus  Forbes  &  Richardson.     White  Sturgeon  .......... 

_QrderJRhombpganoidfia  ..................................... 

Family  Lepisosteidae.     Garpikes  ............................  30 


CONTENTS  V 

PAGE 

Genus  Lepisosteus  Lace"pede 31 

L.  osseus  (Linnaeus).    Long-nosed  Gar *31 

L.  platostomus  Rafinesque.    Short-nosed  Gar *34 

L.  tristcechus  (Bloch  &  Schneider).    Alligator-gar 35 

^  Order  Cycloganoidea 37 

Family  Amiidae.     Bowfins 37 

Genus  Amia  Linnaeus 38 

A.  calva  Linnaeus.     Dogfish /. *38 

J>  Order  Isospondvli 42 

Family  Hiodontida?.    Mooneyes 42 

Genus  Hiodon  Le  Sueur 

H.  alosoides  (Rafinesque).    Northern  Mooneye 43 

H.  tergisus  Le  Sueur.     Toothed  Herring 44 

Family  Dorosomidse.     Gizzard-shad 45 

Genus  Dorosoma  Rafinesque 45 

D.  cepedianum  (Le  Sueur).     Gizzard-shad 

Family  Clupeidae.     Herrings 47 

Genus  Pomolobus  Rafinesque 48 

P.  chrysochloris  Rafinesque.     Golden  Shad 48 

Genus  Alosa  Cuvier 49 

A.  ohiensis  Evermann.     Ohio  Shad 49 

Family  Salmonidae.     The  Salmon  Family 50 

Genus  Coregonus  (Artedi)  Linnaeus ' 51 

C.  clupeiformis  (Mitchill).     Common  Whitefish 51 

Genus  Argyrosomus  Agassiz 53 

A.  artedi  (Le  Sueur).     Lake  Herring 54 

Genus  Cristivomer  Gill  &  Jordan 55 

C.  namaycush  (Walbaum).     Great  Lake  Trout 56 

(4)   Order  Apodes 58 

Family  Anguillidae.     Eels 58 

Genus  Anguilla  Shaw 59 

A.  chrysypa  Rafinesque.     Fresh-water  Eel 59 

Order  Eventognathi 61 

Family  Catostomidae.     Suckers 61 

Genus  Cycleptus  Rafinesque 65 

C.  elongatus  (Le  Sueur).     Missouri  Sucker 

Genus  Ictiobus  Rafinesque : 66 

I.  cyprinella  (Cuvier  &  Valenciennes).     Red-mouth  Buffalo. 

I.  urus  (Agassiz).     Mongrel  Buffalo *70 

I.  bubalus  (Rafine?que).     Small-mouth  Buffalo 

Genus  Carpiodes  Rafinesque 

C.  carpio  (Rafinesque).     Common  River  Carp 

C.  difformis  Cope.     Blunt-nosed  River  Carp *77 

C.  velifer  (Rafinesque).     Quillback 

C.  thompsoni  Agassiz.     Lake  Carp *79 

Genus  Erimyzon  Jordan 80 

E.  sucetta  oblongus  (Mitchill).     Chub-sucker *81 

Genus  Minytrema  Jordan 82 

M.  melanops  (Rafinesque).     Spotted  Sucker 

Genus  Catostomus  Le  Sueur .  .  84 


f?j 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

PAGE 

C.  catostomus  (Forster).  Long-nosed  Sucker 84 

C.  commersonii  (Lacepede).  Common  Sucker *85 

C.  nigricans  Le  Sueur.  Hogsucker *86 

Genus  Moxostoma  Rafinesque 88 

M.  anisurum  (Rafinesque).  White-nosed  Sucker *89 

M.  aureolum  (Le  Sueur).  Common  Red-horse *90 

M.  breviceps  (Cope).  Short-headed  Red-horse *91 

Genus  Placopharynx  Cope 92 

P.  duquesnei  (Le  Sueur) 93 

Genus  Lagochila  Jordan  &  Brayton 94 

Family  Cyprinidae.  The  Minnows  and  the  Carp 94 

Genus  Cyprinus  (Artedi)  Linnaeus 104 

C.  carpio  Linnaeus.  European  Carp 104 

Genus  Campostoma  Agassiz 110 

C.  anomalum  (Rafinesque).  Stone-roller *110 

Genus  Chrosomus  Rafinesque 112 

C.  erythrogaster  Rafinesque.  Red-bellied  Dace *112 

Genus  Hybognathus  Agassiz 114 

H.  nuchalis  Agassiz.  Silvery  Minnow *114 

H.  nubila  (Forbes) *116 

Genus  Pimephales  Rafinesque 117 

P.  promelas  Rafinesque.  Black-head  Minnow *117 

P.  notatus  (Rafinesque).  Blunt-nosed  Minnow *119 

Genus  Semotilus  Rafinesque 121 

S.  atromaculatus  (Mitch ill).  Horned  Dace *121 

Genus  Opsoposodus  Hay 124 

0.  emilise  Hay *124 

Genus  Abramis  Cuvier 125 

A.  crysoleucas  (Mitchill).  Golden  Shiner *126 

Genus  Cliola  Girard 128 

C.  vigilax  (Baird  &  Girard).  Bullhead  Minnow *128 

Genus  Notropis  Rafinesque 130 

N.  anogenus  Forbes 132 

N.  cayuga  Meek *133 

N.  cayuga  atrocaudalis  Evermann 134 

N.  heterodon  (Cope) *134 

N.  blennius  (Girard).  Straw-colored  Minnow *137 

N.  phenacobius  Forbes 138 

N.  gilberti  Jordan  &  Meek *139 

N.  illecebrosus  (Girard) *140 

N.  hudsonius  (DeWitt  Clinton).  Spot-tailed  Minnow *141 

N.  lutrensis  (Baird  &  Girard).  Redfin *143 

N.  whipplii  (Girard).  Steel-colored  Minnow *145 

N.  cornutus  (Mitchill).  Common  Shiner *147 

N.  pilsbryi  Fowler 149 

N.  jejunus  (Forbes) *150 

N.  atherinoides  Rafinesque.  Shiner *151 

N.  rubrifrons  (Cope).  Rosy-faced  Minnow *153 

N.  umbratilis  atripes  (Jordan).  Blackfin *154 

Genus  Ericymba  Cope 156 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 


E.  buccata  Cope.    Silver-mouthed  Minnow .  . 

Genus  Phenacobius  Cope 

P.  mirabilis  (Girard).    Sucker-mouthed  Minnow 

Genus  Rhinichthys  Agassiz 

R.  cataractse  (Cuvier  &  Valenciennes).    Long-nosed  Dace.  . 

R.  atronasus  (Mitchill).    Black-nosed  Dace 162 

Genus  Hybopsis  Agassiz 

H.  hyostomus  (Gilbert) 

H.  dissimilis  (Kirtland).     Spotted  Shiner.  .  .  . 

H.  amblops  (Rafinesque).    Big-eyed  Chub 

H.  storerianus  (Kirtland).     Storer:s  Chub .  .  . 

H.  kentuckiensis  (Rafinesque).    River  Chub Io7 

Genus  Platygobio  Gill |™ 

P.  gracilis  (Richardson).     Flat-headed  Chub 17U 

(&)  Order  Npmp.tngnfl.thi J7^ 

Family  Silurida.     Catfishes J.™ 

Genus  Ictalurus  Rafinesque lit 

I.  furcatus  (Le  Sueur).    Blue  Cat J'» 

I.  anguilla  Evermann  &  Kendall 

I.  punctatus  (Rafinesque).     Channel-cat. .  . 

Genus  Ameiurus  Rafinesque 

A.  lacustris  (Walbaum).     Catfish  of  the  Lakes 

A.  natalis  (lie  Sueur).     Yellow  Bullhead 

A.  nebulosus  (Le  Sueur).     Speckled  Bullhead 1»7 

A.  melas  (Rafinesque).    Black  Bullhead.  . 

Genus  Leptops  Rafinesque 

L.  olivaris  (Rafinesque).    Mud-cat 

Genus  Noturus  (Rafinesque) 

N.  flavus  Rafinesque.    Stonecat 

Genus  Schilbeodes  Bleeker 

S.  gyrinus  (Mitchill).     Tadpole  Cat 

S.  nocturnus  (Jordan  &  Gilbert).     Freckled  Stonecat.  .  .  . 

S.  exilis  (Nelson).     Slender  Stonecat 

S.  miurus  (Jordan).     Brindled  Stonecat 

?  Order  Haekmi- 

Family  Umbrida.     Mudfishes 

Genus  Umbra  (Kramer)  Miiller *» 

U.  limi  (Kirtland).     Mud-minnow -  •         *** 

Family  Esocidse.     Pikes ••••         *™ 

Genus  Esox  (Artedi)  Linnaeus <J» 

E.  vermiculatus  Le  Sueur.     Little  Pickerel Mo 

E.  lucius  Linnaeus.     Common  Pike £J7 

E.  masquinongy  Mitchill.     Muskattunge 

Family  Pceciliidse.    Killifishes 

Genus  Fundulus  Lacepede ...  .  .  .  -  -  .  .  -  -  -  - •  •  •  •         *LL 

F.  diaphanus  menona  (Jordan  &Copeland).    Menona  Top-      ^ 
minnow 

F.  dispar  (Agassiz) 

F.  notatus  (Rafinesque).     Top-minnow 

Genus  Gambusia  Poey •  •  • 


Vlll  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

PAGE 

G.  affinis  (Baird  &  Girard).     Viviparous  Top-minnow *215 

Family  Amblyopsidse.    Blindfishes 217 

Genus  Chologaster  Agassiz 218 

C.  papilliferus  Forbes.     Spring  Cave-fish 218 

(/O)   Order  Acanthopteri .  '. 220 

Family  Uasterosteidae.     Sticklebacks 221 

Genus  Eucalia  Jordan 222 

E.  inconstans  (Kirtland).     Brook  Stickleback 222 

Genus  Pygosteus  Brevoort 224 

P.  pungitius  (Linnaeus) .     Nine-spined  Stickleback 224 

Family  Percopsidae.     Trout-perches 225 

Genus  Percopsis  Agassiz 225 

P.  guttatus  Agassiz.     Trout-perch *225 

Family  Atherinidse.     Silversides 226 

Genus  Labidesthes  Cope 227 

L.  sicculus  (Cope).     Brook  Silverside *227 

Family  Aphredoderidse.     Pirate-perches 228 

Genus  Aphredoderus  Le  Sueur 229 

A.  sayanus  (Gilliams).     Pirate-perch *229 

Family  Elassomidae.    Pigmy  Sunfishes .  . 231 

Genus  Elassoma  Jordan 231 

E.  zonatum  Jordan.     Pigmy  Sunfish 232 

^Family  Centrarchidae.     Sunfishes 232 

Genus  Pomoxis  Rafinesque 237 

P.  annularis  Rafinesque.     White  Crappie *238 

P.  sparoides  (Lacepede).    Black  Crappie - 

Genus  Centrarchus  Cuvier  &  Valenciennes 241 

C.  macropterus  (Lacepede).     Round  Sunfish *241 

Genus  Ambloplites  Rafinesque 242 

A.  rupestris  (Rafinesque).     Rock  Bass *243 

Genus  Chaenobryttus  Gill 245 

C.  gulosus  (Cuvier  &  Valenciennes).     Warmouth  Bass *245 

Genus  Lepomis  Rafinesque 

L.  cyanellus  Rafinesque.     Green  Sunfish 

L.  ischyrus  (Jordan  &  Nelson) 250 

L.  symmetricus  Forbes 251 

L.  euryorus  McKay 252 

L.  miniatus  Jordan *253 

L.  megalotis  (Rafinesque).    Long-eared  Sunfish 

L.  humilis  (Girard).    Orange-spotted  Sunfish *255 

L.  pallidus  (Mitchill).    Bluegill *257 

Genus  Eupomotis  Gill  &  Jordan 259 

E.  heros  (Baird  &  Girard) 259 

E.  gibbosus  (Linnaeus).    Pumpkinseed *260 

Genus  Micropterus  Lacepede 262 

M.  dolomieu  Lace"pede.    Small-mouthed  Black  Bass *263 

M.  salmoides  (Lacepede).    Large-mouthed  Black  Bass *267 

—Family  Percidae.     Perches 269 

Genus  Stizostedion  Rafinesque 271 

S.  vitreum  (Mitchill).     Wall-eyed  Pike *272 


CONTENTS  IX 

PAGE 

S.  canadense  griseum  (De  Kay).     Gray  Pike *274 

Genus  Perca  (Artedi)  Linnaeus 275 

P.  flavescens  (Mitchill).  yellow  Perch *276 

Subfamily  Etheostominae.  Darters 278 

Genus  Percina  Haldeman 281 

P.  caprodes  (Rafinesque).  Log-perch *282 

Genus  Hadropterus  Agassiz 283 

H.  evermanni  Moenkhaus 284 

H.  phoxocephalus  (Nelson) *285 

H.  aspro  (Cope  &  Jordan).  Black-sided  Darter *286 

H.  ouachitae  (Jordan  &  Gilbert) 288 

H.  evides  (Jordan  &  Copeland) 288 

H.  scierus  Swain 289 

Genus  Cottogaster  Putnam 290 

C.  shumardi  (Girard) *290 

Genus  Diplesion  Rafinesque 291 

D.  blennioides  (Rafinesque).     Green-sided  Darter *292 

Genus  Boleosoma  De  Kay 294 

B.  nigrum  (Rafinesque).     Johnny  Darter *294 

B.  camurum  Forbes *298 

Genus  Crystallaria  Jordan  &  Gilbert 300 

C.  asprella    (Jordan) 300 

Genus  Ammocrypta  Jordan 301 

A.  pellucida  (Baird).     Sand  Darter *301 

-Genus  Etheostoma  Rafinesque 303 

E.  zonale  (Cope).     Banded  Darter *304 

E.  camurum  (Cope) .     Blue-breasted  Darter 306 

E.  iowse  Jordan  &  Meek '      306 

E.  jessiae  (Jordan  &  Brayton) *307 

E.  coeruleum  Storer.     Rainbow  Darter *309 

E.  obeyense  Kirsch 311 

E.  squamiceps  Jordan *312 

E.  flabellare  Rafinesque.    Fan-tailed  Darter *313 

Genus  Boleichthys  Girard 315 

B.  fusiformis  (Girard) *315 

Genus  Microperca  Putnam 317 

M.  punctulata  Putnam.     Least  Darter *317 

-—Family  Serranidse.     Sea  Bass 318 

Genus  Roccus  Mitchill 319 

R.  chrysops  (Rafinesque).     White  Bass 

Genus  Morone  Mitchill .- 320 

M.  interrupta  Gill.     Yellow  Bass *321 

-"Family  Sciaenidse.     Drums 322 

Genus  Aplodinotus  Rafinesque 

A.  grunniens  Rafinesque.     Sheepshead 

Family  Cottidae.    Sculpins 

Genus  Cottus  (Artedi)  Linnaeus 326 

C.  ictalops  (Rafinesque).     Common  Sculpin 

C.  ricei  Nelson 327 

Genus  Uranidea  De  Kay 328 


JS  FISHES    OP   ILLINOIS 

PAGE 

U.  kumlienii  Hoy 328 

/I     .Qrder  Anacanthmi 330 

Family  Gadidse.     Codfishes 330 

Genus  Lota  (Cuvier)  Oken 330 

L.  maculosa  (Le  Sueur).     Burbot 331 

Selected  Bibliography 333 

Index 343 


LIST  OF  COLOR  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Large-mouthed  Black  Bass,  Micropterus  salmoides Frontispiece 

FACING  PAGE 

Black  Bullhead,  Ameirus  melus ; 190 

Black  Crappie,  Pomoxis  sparoides 240 

Black-sided  Darter,  Hadropterus  aspro 285 

Black-head  Minnow,  Pimephales  promelas 128 

Blackfin,  Notropis  umbratilis  atripes 147 

Bluegill,  Lepomis  pallidus 257 

Brook  Lamprey,  Lampetra  wilderi 34 

Brook  Silverside,  Labidesthes  sicculus 220 

Brook  Stickleback,  Eucalia  inconstans 220 

Bullhead  Minnow,  Cliola  vigilax  (male  and  female) 128 

Channel-cat,  Ictalurus  punctatus 180 

Chub-sucker,  Erimyzon  sucelta  oblongus 81 

Common  Shiner,  Notropis  cornutus 147 

Common  Sucker,  Catostomus  commersonii 85 

Dogfish,  Amia  calva 36 

Etheostoma  iowce 306 

Etheostoma  jessict 306 

European  Carp,  Cyprinus  carpio — three  illustrations 104-108 

Fan-tailed  Darter,  Etheostoma  flabellare 292 

Fresh-water  Eel,  Anguilla  chrysypa ,  .  59 

Fundulus  dispar  (male  and  female) 212 

"Garman's  Sunfish",  Lepomis  miniatus 253 

Gizzard-shad,  Dorosoma  cepedianum 46 

Golden  Shiner,  Abramis  crysoleucas 126 

Grass  Pike,  Esox  vermiculatus 44 

Green-sided  Darter,  Diplesion  blennioides 292 

Green  Sunfish,  Lepomis  cyanellus 249 

Hadropterus  phoxocephalus 285 

Hogsucker,  Catostomus  nigricans 86 

Ictalurus  anguilla 179 

Johnny  Darter,  Boleosoma  nigrum 296 

Lake  Sturgeon,  Acipenser  rubicundus 36 

Log-perch,  Percina  caprodes 282 

Menona  Top-minnow,  Fundulus  diaphanus  menona 211 

Mud-cat,  Leptops  olivaris 180 

Mud-minnow,  Umbra  limi 211 

Notropis  cayuga 128 

Notropis  jejunus 150 

Orange-spotted  Sunfish,  Lepomis  humilis ....  255 

xi 


Xii  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

FACING    PAGE 

Placopharynx  duquesnei 93 

Quillback,  Carpiodes  velifer 74 

Red-bellied  Dace,  Chrosomus  erythrogaster . 112 

Red-mouth  Buffalo,  Ictiobus  cyprinella 68 

Redfin,  Notropis  lutrensis 143 

Rock  Bass,  Ambloplites  rupestris 243 

Sheepshead,  Aplodinotus  grunniens 323 

Shiner,  Notropis  atherinoides 158 

Short-headed  Red-horse,  Moxostoma  breviceps 92 

Short-nosed  Gar,  Lepisosteus  platostomus 34 

Small-mouth  Buffalo,  Ictiobus  bubalus 72 

Small-mouthed  Black  Bass,  Micropte.us  dolomieu 263 

Speckled  Bullhead,  Ameiurus  nebulosus  marmoratus 187 

Spotted  Sucker,  Minytrema  melanops 83 

Spring  Cave-fish,  Chologaster  papilliferus 220 

Steel-colored  Minnow,  Notropis  whipplii 166 

Stonecat,  Noturus  flavus 197 

Stone-roller,  Campostoma  anomalum 110 

Storer's  Chub,  Hybopsis  storerianus 166 

Straw-colored  Minnow,  Notropis  blennius 137 

Sucker-mouthed  Minnow,  Phenacobius  mirabilis 158 

Tadpole  Cat,  Schilbeodes  gyrinus 197 

Toothed  Herring,  Hiodon  tergisus 44 

Top-minnow,  Fundulus  notatus 143 

Wall-eyed  Pike,  Stizostedion  vitreum 272 

White  Crappie,  Pomoxis  annularis 238 

Yellow  Bass,  Morone  interrupta '.  .  .  .  321 

Yellow  Bullhead,  Ameiurus  natalis 187 

Yellow  Perch,  Perca  fiavescens , 276 


INTRODUCTION 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  present  volume  to  furnish  to  those 
interested  in  Illinois  fishes  a  reliable  guide  to  a  knowledge  of  the 
species,  a  careful  account  of  their  local  and  general  distribution 
and  of  their  relations  to  their  environment,  a  correct  idea  of  the 
function  and  relative  importance  of  the  different  species  in  the 
general  system  of  aquatic  life,  and  a  fairly  full  summary  of  their 
habits  and  utilities  so  far  as  these  are  now  known.  To  this  end 
the  species  have,  with  very  few  exceptions,  been  described  anew 
from  the  specimens  of  our  collection,  with  due  use,  however,  of 
descriptions  already  extant;  analytical  keys  have  been  made, 
adapted,  or  selected,  with  special  reference  to  the  Illinois  species; 
and  our  data  of  geographical  and  local  distribution  and  of 
ecological  situation  and  relationship  have  been  analyzed,  to  a 
considerable  extent,  by  statistical  methods. 

The  collections  and  field  observations  of  Illinois  fishes  upon 
which  this  report  is  based  were  begun  by  the  senior  author  in 
1876,  and  were  continued  by  him  and  by  a  considerable  list  of 
assistants,  at  rather  irregular  intervals,  to  1903.  With  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Illinois  Biological  Station  on  the  Illinois  River  at 
Havana  in  1894,  field  work  in  ichthyology  became  more  nearly 
continuous  than  had  previously  been  possible.  An  especially 
interesting  study  was  made  at  Havana  during  the  winter  and 
spring  of  1898  and  1899  by  Mr.  Wallace  Craig,  an  assistant  of 
the  State  Laboratory,  to  whom  was  assigned  the  duty  of  making 
systematic  collections  at  fixed  points  by  the  uniform  use  of 
identical  apparatus  at  each,  determining,  counting,  and  recording 
all  the  species  obtained  in  each  situation.  It  was  the  object  of 
this  investigation  to  apply,  in  the  field  of  ichthyology,  the  quan- 
titative method  which  had  been  used  with  distinguished  success 
in  the  study  of  the  plankton  of  the  Illinois  River  and  adjacent 
waters  at  the  Havana  Station.  During  the  summer  of  1899  field 
work  was  transferred  to  Meredosia  with  Mr.  H.  A.  Surface  in 
charge,  and  later  it  was  taken  up  by  Mr.  Thomas  Large  at  Mere- 
dosia and  Ottawa,  to  which  latter  place  the  station  equipment 
was  transferred  in  1901.  Extensive  wagon-trips  were  made  from 
time  to  time  through  various  parts  of  the  state  for  a  study  of  the 
fishes  of  the  smaller  streams,  the  most  important  of  them  in  1899 
by  Mr.  Large,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  field  determi- 
nation of  many  of  our  specimens  and  for  numerous  descriptive 
notes  on  the  waters  and  situations  visited. 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


Valuable  collections  have  sometimes  been  obtained,  espe- 
cially from  western  Illinois,  by  arrangement  with  high-school 
teachers,  who  have  fished  the  streams  of  their  neighborhoods  in 
accordance  with  our  instructions,  and  in  consideration  of  our 
return  of  a  named  series  of  specimens  to  their  schools. 

Our  field  apparatus  consisted  mainly  of  seines  of  various 
size  and  mesh,  from  the  smallest  and  finest  minnow  seines  to  those 
long  enough  and  deep  enough  for  use  in  our  largest  rivers.  For 
collections  from  weedy  ponds  and  from  creeks,  and  especially 
from  swift  waters  or  from  streams  where  a  shore  landing  was 
difficult,  we  have  depended  largely  on  the  so-called  "Baird 
seine, "  a  close-meshed  minnow  seine  of  medium  length  with  a 
wide-mouthed,  deep,  conical  bag  of  netting  in  its  center.  Tram- 
mel-nets have  been  very  serviceable  in  waters  through  which  a 
seine  could  not  be  drawn,  especially  in  those  encumbered  by 
brush  or  filled  with  water-plants.  Set-nets  or  pound-nets  of  va- 
rious size  and  mesh,  both  with  and  without  wings,  have  brought 
us  much  material,  especially  of  the  larger  and  more  abundant 
species.  For  our  knowledge  of  these,  however,  we  have  depended 
largely  upon  an  inspection  of  fish  markets  and  an  examination  of 
the  catches  of  commercial  fishermen,  with  whom  we  have,  indeed, 
made  frequent  trips  to  their  fishing  grounds. 

More  than  200,000  specimens  of  our  150  species  have  been 
thus  collected  and  preserved,  under  about  1,800  accessions  num- 
bers representing  differences  of  date,  location,  or  situation,  and 
from  more  than  450  localities,  fairly  well  distributed  through 
ninety-three  of  the  one  hundred  and  two  counties  of  the  state. 
These  collections  bore,  as  a  rule,  permanent  labels  showing  the 
date,  place,  and  body  of  water  from  which  they  came,  and,  in 
the  majority  of  cases,  some  particulars  concerning  the  apparatus 
used  and  the  more  notable  features  of  the  situation.  This  has 
made  possible  a  statistical  analysis  of  the  data  of  relative  abun- 
dance of  the  different  species  under  varying  conditions,  geograph- 
ical, local,  and  ecological,  and  also  of  the  frequencies  of  joint  or 
associate  occurrence  of  the  various  species,  one  with  another,  in 
each  class  of  situation  or  in  each  place.  The  results  of  statistical 
comparisons  of  this  kind  have  been  used  to  some  extent  in  this 
report,  especially  in  the  chapter  on  geographical  and  ecological 
distribution,  and  in  the  detailed  discussions  of  the  leading 
families,  genera,  and  species. 

A  knowledge  of  the  food  and  feeding  activities  of  fishes  is 
fundamental  to  any  fair  understanding  of  their  place  and  func- 


INTRODUCTION  XV 

tion  in  the  general  system  of  life,  and  especially  to  any  just 
appreciation  of  their  importance  to  man.  Unfortunately,  our 
definite  knowledge  of  this  field  is  very  limited,  and  for  most  of 
the  statements  made  concerning  the  food,  feeding  habits,  and 
alimentary  structures  of  fishes,  we  have  had  to  draw  upon  the 
papers  of  the  senior  author,  published  in  volumes  I.  and  II.  of  the 
Bulletin  of  the  Illinois  State  Laboratory  of  Natural  History,  and 
based  upon  studies  made  between  the  years  1878  and  1888. 

In  the  details  of  the  classification  we  have  followed,  with 
little  variation,  Jordan  and  Evermann's  catalogue  of  "The 
Fishes  of  North  and  Middle  America,"  published  as  Bulletin 
47  of  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  but  our  arrangement  of 
orders  and  families  is  that  proposed  by  Boulenger,  in  Volume 
VII.  of  the  Cambridge  Natural  History,  and  followed  in  the 
main  by  Jordan  in  his  "Guide  to  the  Study  of  Fishes." 

It  has  not  been  our  purpose  to  enter  into  the  synonymy 
except  so  far  as  was  necessary  to  connect  the  specific  names 
here  used  with  both  the  more  general  publications  in  this  field 
and  the  more  special  papers  on  the  fishes  of  Illinois.  We  have 
in  all  cases  referred  to  the  original  description  of  the  species,  and 
have,  with  few  exceptions,  made  reference  also,  using  the  abbre- 
viations indicated,  to  the  following  books  and  articles: 

Gunther:  Catalogue  of  the  Fishes  in  the  British  Museum.  (Abbre- 
viation, G.) 

Jordan  and  Gilbert:  Synopsis  of  the  Fishes  of  North  America.  (J. 
&G.) 

Jordan:  Manual  of  the  Vertebrates  of  the  Northern  United  States. 
8th  edition,  1888.  (M.  V.) 

Jordan  and  Evermann.  The  Fishes  of  North  and  Middle  America. 
(J.  &E.) 

Boulenger:  Catalogue  of  the  Perciform  Fishes  in  the  British  Museum. 
(B.) 

Nelson:  A  Partial  Catalogue  of  the  Fishes  of  Illinois.  Bull.  111.  State 
Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I.,  No.  1:  (N.) 

Jordan:  A  Catalogue  of  the  Fishes  of  Illinois.  Bull.  111.  State  Lab. 
Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I.,  No.  2.  (J.) 

Forbes:  A  Catalogue  of  the  Native  Fishes  of  Illinois.  Rep.  111.  State 
Fish  Comm.,  1884.  (F.) 

Forbes:  Various  papers  on  the  food  of  fishes.  Bull.  111.  State  Lab. 
Nat.  Hist,  Vols.  I.  and  II.  (F.  F.) 

Large:  A  List  of  the  Native  Fishes  of  Illinois,  with  Keys.  Rep.  111. 
State  Fish  Comm.,  1900-02.  (L.) 

Richardson:  A  Review  of  the  Sunfishes  of  the  current  Genera  Apo- 
motis,  Lepomis,  and  Eupomotis,  with  particular  Reference  to  the  Species 
found  in  Illinois.  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  VII,  Art.  III.  (R.) 


Xvi  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Besides  the  assistants  already  mentioned,  especial  acknowl- 
edgments are  due  to  Mr.  H.  Garman,  assistant  in  the  State 
Laboratory  and  collector  of  much  of  our  material  during  the  early 
years  of  the  work;  to  Mr.  A.  J.  Woolman,  who,  in  1903,  made  and 
recorded  measurements  of  many  specimens  of  the  commoner  spe- 
cies, and  who,  by  his  studies  of  the  osteology  of  the  Catostomidce 
opened  the  way  to  improved  generic  definitions  of  Ictiobus  and 
Carpiodes]  and  to  Mrs.  Lydia  M.  (Hart)  Green  and  Miss 
Charlotte  M.  Pinkerton,  who  made,  under  the  supervision  of 
the  field  ichthyologist,  the  colored  drawings  by  which  this  report 
is  illustrated.  Professor  Frank  Smith,  Dr.  C.  A.  Kofoid,  Mr.  C. 
A.  Hart,  Mr.  J.  E.  Hallinen,  and  Mr.  E.  B.  Forbes  have,  during 
their  several  periods  of  service  on  the  State  Laboratory  staff, 
added  considerably  to  our  knowledge  of  the  fishes  of  the  state. 

It  is  impracticable  to  give  the  names  of  all  outside  the  staff  of 
the  State  Laboratory  who  have  been,  from  time  to  time,  of  mate- 
rial assistance  in  the  long  course  of  this  work,  but  this  list  of 
acknowledgments  would  be  seriously  deficient  without  particular 
mention  of  Dr.  S.  E.  Meek,  of  the  Field  Museum,  and  Dr.  Barton 
W.  Evermann,  of  the  U.  S.  Fish  Commission,  both  of  whom  have 
been  especially  obliging  in  passing  judgment  on  sets  of  specimens 
of  difficult  determination,  and  in  scrutinizing  the  tables  of  geo- 
graphical distribution  printed  in  the  introductory  part  of  this 
report.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  acknowledge  also  our  indebtedness  to 
a  considerable  number  of  careful  and  observant  fishermen  who 
have  told  us  much  of  the  habits  and  behavior  of  our  best-known 
fishes.  To  Messrs.  John  A.  Shulte,  of  Havana,  J.  P.  Baur,  of 
the  U.  S.  fisheries  station  at  Meredosia,  David  Yeck,  of  Mere- 
dosia,  W.  J.  &  H.  L.  Ashlock,  of  Alton,  and  Miles  Newberry,  of 
Havana,  we  owe  many  facts  concerning  the  life  and  economy 
of  our  fishes  which  we  should  not  otherwise  have  obtained. 

More  than  to  any  other,  the  Director  is  indebted  to  Mr.  R. 
E.  Richardson — his  colleague  during  three  years  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  this  report — for  indispensable  service  in  the  field,  the 
laboratory,  and  the  library,  and  especially  for  the  accumulation 
and  organization  of  material  of  all  descriptions,  for  his  critical 
study  of  the  collections,  all  of  which  were  finally  handled  by 
him,  and  for  the  preparation  or  revision  of  nearly  all  the  technical 
descriptions  printed  in  this  volume. 

S.  A.  FORBES, 

Director  of  Laboratory. 
URBANA,  August  1,  1908. 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY  AND  HYDROGRAPHY   OP   ILLINOIS 


THE  TOPOGRAPHY  AND  HYDROGRAPHY  OF -ILLINOIS* 
/ 

BY  CHARLES  W.  ROLFE,  M.  S. 

The  State  of  Illinois  may  be  described  as  a  great  plain  sloping 
gently  towards  the  south,  the  northernmost  fifth  of  which  is 
underlaid  by  rocks  of  Silurian  age,  while  the  surface  rocks  of 
the  remaining  four-fifths  are  the  limestones,  sandstones,  and 
shales  of  the  Mississippian  and  Pennsylvanian,  with  small  areas 
of  Ordovician,  Silurian,  and  Devonian. 

The  highest  portion  of  this  plain  lies  in  the  northern  part  of 
Jo  Daviess  and  Stephenson  counties,  where  the  general  surface 
has  an  elevation  of  something  over  1,000  feet,  and  mounds  rise 
more  than  200  feet  above  this  level.  The  highest  point  is 
Charles  Mound,  near  the  Wisconsin  line,  which  is  1,241  feet 
above  the  sea.  From  this  point  the  surface  slopes  rather  rapidly 
to  the  east  and  south,  declining  to  an  average  altitude  of  about 
800  feet  in  Lake  county  and  of  700  feet  in  Whiteside  county. 
South  of  Whiteside  county  the  surface  levels  across  the  state 
from  east  to  west  are  essentially  the  same  wherever  the  line  is 
drawn,  but  southward  the  surface  slopes  gradually  until  an 
average  level  of  400  feet  is  reached  just  north  of  the  Ozark 
ridge.  This  ridge  is  an  eastern  extension  of  the  Ozark  Mountain 
range,  whose  highest  peaks  in  Illinois  are  Williams  Hill,  in 
Pope  county,  which  reaches  an  elevation  of  1,065  feet,  and  Bald 
Knob,  in  Union  county,  985  feet  high.  The  average  altitude  of 
the  ridge  is  from  750  to  800  feet.  South  of  it  the  surface  slopes 
rapidly  to  the  low  valley  of  the  Cache  River,  the  general  altitude 
of  which  does  not  exceed  325  to  350  feet.  The  lowest  point 
in  the  state  is  at  Cairo,  where  low  water  on  the  Ohio  River  is 
268.58  feet  above  the  sea. 

While  the  general  surface  of  the  state  is  unusually  level, 

*The  general  system  of  the  hydrography  of  the  state  is  so  largely  a  consequence  of  its  sur- 
face geology  that  it  can  be  clearly  understood  only  by  way  of  its  geological  antecedents  and 
relations.  For  this  reason  Professor  C.  W.  Rolfe,  for  many  years  head  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Geology  in  the  University  of  Illinois,  was  asked  to  prepare  this  chapter.  With  his 
discussion  has  been  incorporated,  with  his  approval,  some  additional  matter  relating  especially 
to  the  waters  themselves,  compiled  from  field  notes  of  the  State  Laboratory,  and  from  more 
general  sources. — S.  A.  FORBES. 

-2  F 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

this  does  not  mean  that  it  presents  no  marked  variations.  Few 
of  the  102  counties  in  the  state  have  a  difference  of  less  than  150 
feet  between  their  highest  and  lowest  points,  while  variations 
of  300  to  400  feet  are  often  found.  These  differences,  however, 
are  not  due  to  variations  in  the  general  level,  but  to  the  presence 
of  deep  preglacial  valleys  or  of  moraines,  and  often  of  both. 
For  the  present  discussion  the  surface  of  the  state  may  be 
divided  as  follows: 

1.  The  northwestern  unglaciated  area. 

2.  The  areas  of  the  lowan  and  the  Illinoisan  drift. 

3.  The  area  of  the  Wisconsin  drift. 

4.  The  unglaciated  southern  area. 

THE    NORTHWESTERN   UNGLACIATED    AREA 

It  is  believed  that  at  one  time  the  entire  northern  fifth  of 
the  state  was  covered  by  rocks  of  the  Trenton,  Maquoketa,  and 
Niagara  formations,  these  following  each  other  from  below  up- 
ward in  the  order  named,  and  each  covering  the  entire  area. 
This  portion  of  the  state  became  dry  land  at  the  close  of  the 
Silurian  and  was  not  again  submerged,  except  possibly  in  small 
areas  and  for  brief  periods;  consequently  during  the  millions 
of  years  which  elapsed  between  its  emergence  from  the  ocean 
and  the  advent  of  the  first  ice-sheet  it  was  subjected  to  large 
erosion  in  spite  of  its  low  relief.  At  some  time  during  this 
long  period  a  low  arch  was  raised  across  its  northwestern  corner, 
and  here  erosion  became  much  more  effective  than  on  the  less 
elevated  parts. 

The  streams  of  that  time  cut  for  themselves  canons  250  to 
300  feet  deep,  extending  entirely  through  the  Niagara  and 
Maquoketa,  but  found  their  base  level  at  or  near  the  surface  of 
the  Galena.  An  extensive  peneplain  was  formed  at  this  level, 
covering  most  of  the  area  now  included  in  the  nine  counties 
which  lie  farthest  west.  At  various  points  over  this  peneplain, 
mostly  in  its  northern  and  western  parts,  fragments  of  the 
denuded  strata  were  left  in  the  form  of  mounds  which  now  rise 
above  the  general  surface.  Later  the  base  level  was  lowered 
and  the  rivers  began  again  to  deepen  their  channels,  and  they 
have  continued  this  process  until  now  they  flow  in  trenches  cut 
in  the  rock  often  to  a  depth  of  300  to  400  feet  below  the  general 
level.  With  the  mounds  rising  above  the  general  surface  and 
with  the  deep  channels  in  which  the  rivers  flow,  the  topography 
of  the  country  is  extremely  broken  for  that  of  the  Mississippi 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND  HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  XIX 

Valley.  Much  of  the  irregularity  shown  in  Jo  Daviess  county, 
however,  was  produced  during  and  since  the  glacial  period,  for 
the  ice-sheet  which  advanced  on  the  state  from  the  north  was 
divided  in  southern  Wisconsin  and  left  this  part  of  our  state 
untouched. 

THE    AREAS    OF   IOWAN   AND    ILLINOISAN   DRIFT 

Before  describing  these  areas  it  is  well  to  call  attention  to 
the  fact  that  the  preglacial  drainage  of  the  entire  state  seems  to 
have  been  from  northeast  to  southwest,  and  that  while  most  of 
these  early  stream  beds  were  completely  filled  by  the  drift  from 
the  ice-sheets,  some  of  them  were  so  large  and  deep  that  they 
were  not  entirely  filled  throughout  their  length,  and  now  control 
the  general  direction  of  our  larger  streams.  Probably,  however, 
no  one  of  them  follows  a  preglacial  channel  throughout  its 
entire  length,  and  nearly  all  of  the  smaller  streams  flow  in 
postglacial  channels,  the  courses  of  which  have  been  largely 
determined  by  moraines. 

Coming  now  to  the  areas  mentioned  in  the  last  heading,  it  is 
believed  that  all  of  that  part  of  the  state  which  lies  north  of  the 
Ozark  ridge,  with  the  exception  of  the  extreme  northwest  corner, 
was  covered  by  one  or  more  of  the  earlier  ice-sheets,  and  that, 
when  these  retreated,  they  left  behind  them  a  thick  sheet  of 
drift  which  filled  the  smaller  channels  completely,  and  some 
portions  of  the  larger  ones  as  well.  Upon  the  general  surface 
thus  formed  they  also  laid  down  ridges  of  drift  which  extended 
across  the  country,  forming  effective  dams  to  the  drainage. 
These  dams,  which  are  called  moraines,  varied  in  height  from 
a  few  feet  to  a  hundred  or  more,  and  from  a  few  rods  to  one  or 
several  miles  in  width.  They  were  generally  concentric,  and  so 
lay  nearly  parallel  to  each  other.  When  they  were  far  apart 
they  inclosed  large  areas  which  had  no  outlets,  and,  filled  by 
rains,  formed  extensive  lakes;  but  when  they  were  close  together 
the  intervening  lakes  were  necessarily  smaller  and  more  numer- 
ous. The  water  supply  of  the  time  greatly  exceeded  evapora- 
tion, and  so  these  basins  were  soon  filled  to  the  brim  and  over- 
flowed at  the  lowest  points  oFthe  moraines  which  surrounded 
them.  These  openings  gradually  deepened.  Ultimately,  by 
the  lowering  of  their  outlets,  and  also  by  filling  with  deposits, 
the  lakes  were  converted  into  marshy  plains  or  prairies. 

During  the  time  in  which  the  lakes  were  in  existence 
nothing  prevented  the  growth  of  vegetation  on  the  confining 


xx  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

moraines,  and  so  these  areas  gradually  came  to  be  covered  with 
belts  of  timber,  between  which  were  the  lakes  or  marshes  which 
afterward  became  prairies. 

As  the  lakes  gradually  became  marshy,  the  water,  flowing 
from  one  to  the  other  through  the  concentric  moraines,  sought 
the  lowest  channels  and  formed  continuous  streams.  Since 
certain  of  the  preglacial  channels  were  not  completely  filled 
with  drift  throughout  their  entire  lengths  they  offered  depressions 
here  and  there,  and  the  streams  followed  their  course  for  con- 
siderable distances,  so  that  in  the  end  the  general  direction  of 
the  stream  was  often  largely  controlled  by  these  valleys. 

As  time  went  on  these  main  streams  threw  off  branches 
behind  the  moraines  which  in  their  turn  divided  and  subdivided, 
each  little  branch  pushing  its  channel  back  towards  the  nearest 
slough.  In  this  way  a  complete  drainage  system  was  gradually 
established,  but  the  courses  of  the  larger  branches,  and  many 
of  the  smaller  as  well,  were  largely  controlled  by  the  moraines 
behind  which  they  were  developed.  Gradually,  and  long  before 
the  drainage  system  was  complete,  those  branches  which  were 
pushing  backward  toward  the  moraines  united  with  the  flood- 
water  streams  which  flowed  down  their  sides  and  began  to  eat 
into  the  moraines  themselves,  thus  dividing  them  into  series  of 
isolated  hills  and  short  ridges  which  we  now  find  scattered  all 
over  this  area.  In  some  cases  they  removed  the  moraines 
entirely.  Only  a  few  of  these  old  morainic  systems  have  been 
studied  and  are  shown  on  the  accompanying  map  (III.),  but 
many  others  are  known  to  exist. 

The  above  is,  in  brief,  the  history  of  this  area,  and  indicates 
in  a  general  way  how  its  streams  and  surface  features  were 
formed.  As  the  drift  was  deposited  on  an  irregular  surface  its 
depth  varied  greatly,  and  in  many  places  the  streams  have  cut 
entirely  through  it,  alternately  crossing  the  divides  and  channels 
of  former  streams,  and  consequently  flowing  now  on  rock  and 
now  on  mud  beds. 

With  the  establishment  of  a  drainage  system,  erosion  of  the 
prairies  began,  and  every  storm  since  that  time  has  carried  away 
portions  of  the  black  prairie  soil,  until  now,  in  many  places,  it  has 
nearly  or  entirely  disappeared,  leaving  the  gray  to  brown,  more 
or  less  acid,  subsoil  at  the  surface.  In  the  lake  beds,  which 
were  protected  from  erosion,  the  black  soil  has  been  retained 
and,  in  some  places,  even  thick  beds  of  peat  have  been  formed. 
Some  lakes  were  so  situated  that  streams  flowing  into  them 


THE  TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF    ILLINOIS  XXI 

brought  quantities  of  sediment.  The  coarser  particles,  or  sands, 
were  deposited  as  soon  as  the  velocity  was  checked,  but  the 
water  in  the  lake  was  kept  in  motion  sufficiently  rapid  so  that 
the  finer  sediment  was  not  dropped,  but  carried  away.  In  this 
manner  the  beds  of  the  lakes  were  covered  with  thick  layers  of 
sand.  When  drainage  was  established,  this  sand,  then  left  dry, 
was  heaped  by  the  wind  into  dunes  and  hills.  Illustrations  of 
this  may  be  found  in  the  Winnebago  swamps,  the  sandy  areas 
of  Mason,  Kankakee,  and  Tazewell  counties,  and  in  many  other 
places. 

After  an  interval  covering  thousands,  perhaps  tens  of 
thousands,  of  years  following  the  retreat  of  the  earlier  ice-sheets, 
the  northeastern  portion  of  the  state  was  again  covered  by  ice. 
As  this  ice  melted,  its  outwash  deposited  here  and  there  over 
the  older  drift  a  layer  of  fine  but  well-assorted  material  called 
loess.  After  the  ice  had  disappeared  and  the  climate  had  be- 
come less  humid,  this  loess  was  rearranged  by  the  wind  and 
quite  probably  received  additions  of  similar  wind-borne  material 
from  the  western  plains.  We  speak  of  it  as  having  been  derived 
from  the  lowan  and  Wisconsin  glaciers,  but  it  is  quite  certain 
that  at  least  some  of  these  deposits  were  formed  during  the 
retreat  of  the  Illinoisan  ice,  and  rearranged  and  redistributed 
by  wind  during  the  great  drouth  which  covered  part  of  the 
interval  between  the  earlier  and  later  invasions.  Most  of  the 
loess  in  this  state  is  formed  in  a  broad  belt  following  roughly  the 
course  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  larger  tributaries. 

All  the  elements  whose  origin  is  here  indicated  enter  into  the 
surface  of  the  area  now  under  discussion  at  various  points.  The 
exact  location  of  many  of  them  will  be  mentioned  in  connection 
with  the  description  of  the  various  river  systems. 

THE    AREA    OF   THE   WISCONSIN   DRIFT 

As  stated  above,  long  after  the  retreat  of  the  earlier  glaciers 
the  northeastern  corner  of  the  state  was  invaded  by  a  new  ice- 
sheet  called  the  Wisconsin  glacier.  It  covered  this  portion  of 
the  state  as  far  south  as  Paris  and  Shelbyville,  leaving,  when  it 
retired,  a  prominent  moraine  which  runs  through  these  places 
and  then  turns  northward,  passing  near  Decatur,  Clinton,  Pekin, 
Princeton,  Sycamore,  and  Harvard,  as  shown  on  the  accompany- 
ing map  (III.).  This  ridge  is  known  as  the  Shelbyville  or 
Mattoon  moraine.  In  its  retreat  this  glacier  left  a  series  of 


Xxii  FISHES   OF  ILLINOIS 

concentric  moraines  with  intervening  lake-beds,  the  larger  of 
which  are  well  shown  on  the  map. 

Another  fact,  also  partially  indicated  on  the  map,  is  that  the 
drainage  system  in  the  part  of  the  state  north  and  east  of  the 
Shelbyville  moraine  is  not  nearly  so  well  developed  as  in  the  older 
Illinoisan  drift  area,  and  consequently  the  streams  do  not  have 
so  many  branches.  As  the  streams  break  through  the  Shelby- 
ville moraine,  they  often  change  the  direction  of  their  courses 
entirely,  thus  forming  curious  curves.  This  is  doubtless  due 
to  the  fact  that  as  the  Wisconsin  drift  sheet  is  superimposed  on 
the  Illinoisan  drift,  the  beds  of  the  streams  developed  on  the 
surface  of  the  latter  are  continued  under  the  former,  while  the 
streams  on  the  Wisconsin  have  no  relation  to  them.  When  the 
Wisconsin  streams  broke  through  their  confining  moraines,  they 
had  to  find  their  way  to  the  most  accessible  Illinoisan  stream 
as  best  they  could. 

The  present  condition  of  the  area  of  the  Wisconsin  drift 
with  its  almost  unbroken  moraines,  its  black  level  prairies,  peat 
bogs,  lake  beds,  shallow  streams,  and  incomplete  drainage  is 
believed  to  represent  faithfully  the  condition  of  the  Illinoisan 
area  at  an  earlier  period  in  its  history,  and  this  correspondence 
enables  us  to  interpret  many  topographic  relations  in  this  area 
which  would  not  otherwise  be  apparent.  For  instance,  the 
control  which  the  moraines  of  the  Wisconsin  area  exercise  on 
the  direction  of  its  streams,  the  position  and  size  of  its  lakes, 
and  the  location  and  form  of  the  tracts  of  black  prairie  soil  are 
very  evident,  and  it  is  believed  like  control  would  be  just  as 
evident  in  the  Illinoisan  area  if  the  fragments  of  its  moraines 
were  carefully  studied  and  mapped  so  that  they  could  be  restored 
and  their  influence  shown.  All  that  has  been  said  about  the 
early  history  of  the  Illinoisan  area  applies  as  well  to  the  Wis- 
consin. The  only  material  differences  between  them  are  due 
to  age  and  consequent  degree  of  development. 

THE    UNGLACIATED    SOUTHERN   AREA 

A  natural  division  of  this  area  would  be  into  mountain 
ridge  and  coastal  plain.  Regarding  the  first,  little  need  be 
mentioned  beyond  the  facts  that  it  is  a  true  mountain  in 
structure,  although  its  altitude  is  low  (about  400  feet,  on  an 
average,  above  the  general  level);  that  it  is  composed  almost 
entirely  of  limestones  and  sandstones  of  Mississipian;  and  that 
it  presents  on  its  southern  slope  the  only  approach  to  volcanic 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS 

phenomena  in  the  state.  That  portion  of  the  state  south  of 
the  Ozarks  forms  part  of  the  coastal  plain  which  borders  the 
Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts.  It  has  all  the  peculiarities  of  this 
plain,  since  it  is  level,  sandy,  and  covered  with  residual  soils. 
It  is  almost  entirely  drained  by  the  Cache  and  Big  Bay  rivers, 
principally  the  former,  whose  current,  owing  to  a  reef  across 
the  channel  near  Ullin,  is  very  sluggish. 

THE    RIVER   SYSTEMS 

With  these  general  principles  in  mind  we  come  to  a  more 
detailed  description  of  the  drainage  basins  of  the  principal 
streams.  Nearly  the  entire  surface  of  the  state  is  drained  by 
two  sets  of  streams,  viz:  the  Rock,  Illinois,  Kaskaskia,  and 
Big  Muddy  rivers,  direct  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi,  whose 
general  direction  is  southwest;  and  the  Saline,  Little  Wabash, 
Embarras,  and  Vermilion,  tributaries  of  the  Wabash  and  through 
it  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  whose  general  direction  is  south- 
east. The  drainage  basins  of  these  streams  will  now  be  described 
in  order. 

ROCK  RIVER  SYSTEM 

The  Rock  River  system  drains  a  part  of  southern  Wisconsin 
and  most  of  the  northwestern  corner  of  Illinois.  Its  basin 
covers  an  area  of  almost  10,820  square  miles — 5,510  in  Wisconsin 
and  5,310  in  Illinois  (Leverett).  This  drainage  basin  is  40  to 
50  miles  wide  in  Wisconsin,  but  near  the  state-line  it  reaches  a 
width  of  about  80  miles.  It  narrows  again  in  Illinois  to  40 
miles,  and  then  to  25  miles.  Its  length  is  about  175  miles. 
The  outline  thus  formed  is  comparable  to  that  of  a  pear,  the 
stem  toward  Rock  Island.  The  country  in  this  area  is  an 
undulating  semi-prairie  region.  Large  expanses  of  unbroken 
prairie,  groves  and  some  more  extensive  bodies  of  timber, 
swamps,  and  lakes,  are  all  to  be  found  within  its  limits.  Almost 
all  of  the  basin  tying  within  Wisconsin  is  covered  with  drift  from 
the  Wisconsin  glacier,  but  near  Janesville  Rock  River  breaks 
through  the  " Kettle  Moraine"  of  the  Green  Bay  lobe  of  this 
glacier.  South  of  this  the  basin  lies  in  drift  of  lowan  and 
Illinoisan  age.  Although  the  exact  boundaries  of  these  drift 
areas  are  not  as  yet  definitely  determined,  the  western  border 
of  the  lowan  drift  probably  extends  but  a  few  miles  west  of 
Rock  River  at  any  point,  and  for  a  short  distance  below  Rock- 
ford  it  follows  nearly  the  course  of  the  river.  The  section  of  the 
basin  lying  in  the  Wisconsin  drift  is  characterized  by  extensive 


Xxiv  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

swamps  and  numerous  small  lakes,  the  drainage  being  almost 
entirely  independent  of  preglacial  lines  and  consequently  im- 
perfectly developed.  The  overflow  from  the  swamps  is  gathered 
into  little  meandering  streams  which  have  cut  only  small  chan- 
nels in  the  soil.  The  rest  of  the  basin  is  older  country — undulat- 
ing, well-drained,  and  forming  excellent  farm-land  except  along 
Green  River,  where  there  are  many  swamps  and  sand-hills. 

ROCK  RIVER 

Rock  River  is,  of  course,  the  principal  river  in  the  system. 
It  rises  in  Dodge  county,  Wisconsin,  in  what  was  formerly  Lake 
Horicon,  but  is  now  drained  and  has  become  an  extensive  marsh. 
The  lake,  which  existed  until  1868,  although  a  body  of  water 
formed  by  an  artificial  dam,  yet  occupied  the  site  of  an  ancient 
lake  caused  by  the  body  of  drift  which  formed  a  natural  barrier 
to  the  passage  of  the  water.  Gradually  this  was  eroded  and  the 
lake  drained,  probably  through  the  same  passage  which  now 
forms  the  channel  of  Rock  River  past  the  village  of  Horicon. 
A  dam  200  feet  in  length,  erected  at  this  point,  would  raise  the 
water  10  feet  and  restore  the  old  lake  to  a  large  extent  (10th 
Census).  Leaving  Horicon,  the  river  runs  through  the  eastern 
part  of  its  basin  until  opposite  Oconomowoc,  where  it  turns 
abruptly  northwest  to  Watertown.  Here  it  suddenly  bends 
again  to  the  southwest,  following  this  direction  until  it  reaches 
the  Illinois  state-line  near  the  center  of  its  basin.  From  here  it 
winds  and  curves  toward  the  southwest,  following  at  first  the 
center  of  the  basin,  but  finally  running  decidedly  nearer  its 
western  boundary  line.  It  empties  its  waters  into  the  Missis- 
sippi near  Rock  Island. 

Throughout  its  course  Rock  River  is  a  bright,  clear,  swiftly 
flowing  stream,  affording  some  of  the  most  magnificent  water- 
powers  in  the  country.  Dams  have  been  built  at  numerous 
places  and  are  extensively  used  for  milling  and  manufacturing 
purposes.  Although  its  tributaries,  especially  at  times  of  fresh- 
ets, pour  their  muddy,  yellow  sediments  into  its  clear  waters, 
Rock  River  still  retains  its  remarkable  clearness  almost  to  its 
mouth.  Here,  however,  the  water  is  generally  quite  turbid  in 
consequence  of  the  sewage  and  other  contaminations  which  are 
poured  into  it. 

The  river  is  nearly  300  miles  long — almost  one  half  lying  in 
Wisconsin.  The  altitude  of  its  source  is  875  feet,  and  of  its 
mouth  536  feet,  making  a  total  descent  of  almost  340  feet.  The 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY  AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF    ILLINOIS  XXV 

average  slope  is  1.2  feet  per  mile.  Its  most  rapid  section  is  in 
Wisconsin,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Catfish  to  that  of  the  Peca- 
tonica,  where  for  30  miles  the  average  slope  is  1.9  feet  per  mile; 
and  the  next  is  from  Oregon  to  Sterling  and  Rock  Falls,  in 
which  distance  of  36  miles  the  average  slope  is  1.31  feet  per  mile. 
Locally  there  are  more  sudden  descents  than  these — as  at  the 
Sterling  rapids,  where  there  is  a  fall  of  15  feet.  The  average 
low-water  flow  of  Rock  River  is  3,900  cubic  feet  per  second,  and 
the  average  yearly  flow  is  9,944  cubic  feet.  The  average  yearly 
flow  is  35  per  cent,  of  the  annual  precipitation,  and  the  ordinary 
low-water  flow  is  about  .36  cubic  feet  per  second  per  square 
mile  (10th  Census). 

There  are  10  large  lakes  tributary  to  Rock  River.  These 
are  all  in  Wisconsin  and  have  a  total  area  of  80  square  miles. 
Among  them  are  Lakes  Koshkonong,  Mendota,  Monona,  and 
Beaver  Dam.  Lake  Koshkonong,  in  southwestern  Jefferson 
county,  is  an  expansion  of  Rock  River  2  miles  wide  and  10  miles 
long,  with  its  foot  6  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Catfish 
River.  A  large  dam  has  been  erected  across  its  outlet  and  is 
controlled  in  the  interests  of  the  water-power  below.  To  this 
and  the  dams  of  several  other  smaller  tributary  lakes  is  very 
largely  due  the  maintenance  of  a  comparatively  uniform  flow 
in  dry  and  severely  cold  seasons. 

In  Wisconsin  the  banks  of  Rock  River  are  quite  low  and 
rolling,  but  at  Janesville  the  river  enters  a  wide  preglacial 
valley  which  it  follows  to  a  point  a  little  below  Rockford,  111. 
The  stream  then  turns  abruptly  westward  while  the  valley 
continues  southward  toward  the  Illinois  River,  the  valley  of 
which  it  enters  at  Hennepin.  This  changing  of  the  river  course 
is  doubtless  due  to  the  Wisconsin  moraine  which  was  left  across 
its  path  when  the  glacier  retreated.  The  water  then  found  an 
easier  outlet  through  the  preglacial  channels  of  some  of  its 
former  tributaries.  The  valley  averages  about  3  miles  in  width, 
although  in  places  it  reaches  a  width  of  5  miles.  Most  of  the 
way  the  river  follows  the  western  edge  of  the  valley,  although 
just  above  Rockford  it  crosses  to  the  eastern  side  and  then  back 
again.  Thus,  the  eastern  banks  are  usually  low  while  those  on 
the  west  are  high  and  steep,  in  some  places  rising  75  feet  above 
the  water.  W^hen  the  stream  turns  westward  below  Rockford, 
it  runs  for  50  miles  through  a  narrow  valley  to  a  point  a  few 
miles  below  Dixon.  For  a  large  part  of  this  distance  it  flows 
through  the  preglacial  channels  spoken  of  above.  Through  this 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 


part  of  its  course  the  stream  maintains  a  width  of  500  feet, 
but  its  valley  varies  in  width  from  1,000  feet  to  fully  1  mile 
(Leverett) .  It  forms  long  undulating  curves,  except  at  Grand 
Detour,  where  it  doubles  upon  itself  in  short,  abrupt  bends. 
The  face  of  the  country  along  the  river  is  rough,  broken,  and 
timbered.  The  prairie  extends  to  the  water's  edge  in  only  a  few 
places.  The  bluffs  approaching  closely  to  the  river  are  bold, 
rocky,  and  precipitous,  rising  abruptly  at  times  to  a  height  of 
125  feet.  The  little  streams  on  either  side  have  cut  deep  ravines 
in  the  banks,  often  exposing  the  several  formations  of  the  Ordo- 
vician.  The  result  is  certainly  very  picturesque  and  somewhat 
awe-inspiring.  Below  Dixon  the  bluffs  gradually  recede  and  grow 
lower  until,  at  Sterling,  Rock  River  begins  to  flow  through  a 
sandy  plain  known  as  the  Green  River  basin,  a  plain  which 
lies  25-40  feet  above  the  stream.  Here  the  course  of  the  river 
is  entirely  independent  of  preglacial  lines,  and  its  current  is 
broad  and  swift.  The  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi  strike  Rock 
River  at  Milan  and  for  several  miles  above  this  point  they  rise 
on  either  side  abruptly,  in  some  places  towering  150  feet  above 
the  water.  They  then  break  away  and  the  river  flows  in  an 
alluvial  plain  of  good  farming  land.  This  plain  is  about  5  miles 
wide.  Near  the  mouth  of  Rock  River  there  are  several  small 
islands  which  divert  the  river  into  three  channels.  Two  of  these 
branches  meet  again  near  Milan,  flowing  into  the  Mississippi 
two  and  a  half  miles  distant,  while  the  southern  stream,  known 
as  Kickapoo  slough,  pursues  a  winding  course  southward  and 
westward,  opening  into  the  Mississippi  a  few  miles  south  of  the 
mouth  of  Rock  River. 

The  upper  Rock  River  is  a  clear,  quiet-flowing  stream  with 
sandy  bottom.  Lower  in  its  course  the  bed  becomes  more  often 
rocky  and  the  current  quickens.  Naturally,  the  water,  unless 
roiled  by  freshets,  keeps  its  bright,  clear  character  until  well 
down  near  the  mouth.  Its  tributaries,  however,  at  times  pour 
in  a  flood  of  stained  and  muddy  water,  making  the  lower  portion 
a  turbid  stream,  while,  of  late,  sewage  and  other  contamination 
have  done  much  to  impair  the  original  brilliancy  of  the  water. 
Yet,  as  Illinois  rivers  go,  it  must  even  now  be  considered  a 
clear  stream,  while  the  bold  bluffs  and  out-cropping  rocks  along 
its  banks  make  it  one  of  the  most  picturesque  rivers  in  the  state. 

The  principal  branches  of  Rock  River  are  Pecatonica, 
Kishwaukee,  and  Green  rivers. 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  XXVii 

PECATONICA   RIVER 

Pecatonica  River  rises  in  Iowa  county,  Wisconsin,  in  the 
driftless  area,  and  flows  south,  entering  Illinois  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  Stephenson  county.  It  then  flows  in  a  course  a  little 
south  of  west  to  Freeport,  where  it  turns  westward,  entering 
Winnebago  county  near  the  center  of  its  western  boundary. 
Another  turn  is  then  made,  to  the  north  and  east,  the  stream 
finally  emptying  into  Rock  River  at  Rockton.  The  Pecatonica 
is  about  150  miles  long,  over  half  of  this  distance  lying  in  Wis- 
consin. Its  drainage  basin  covers  2,225  square  miles,  of  which 
780  are  in  Illinois.  Its  discharge  in  ordinary  low  water  is 
about  940  cubic  feet  per  second,  and  the  average  flow  for  the 
year  is  estimated  to  be  over  2,300  cubic  feet  per  second.  Almost 
all  of  that  portion  of  the  basin  lying  in  Wisconsin  is  included  in 
the  driftless  area,  the  river  entering  the  Illinoisan  drift  just 
above  the  Illinois  state-line.  It  flows  through  this  drift  until, 
at  a  point  10  miles  above  its  mouth,  it  enters  the  lowan  drift. 
For  10  or  15  miles  above  this  point,  however,  it  follows  closely 
the  northern  boundary  of  this  drift.  The  country  which  the 
Pecatonica  drains  is  rolling,  partly  timber  and  partly  prairie. 

The  Indian  name  of  the  river  (spelled  Peeka-ton-oke  on  the 
old  maps)  is  said  by  some  authors  to  mean  "muddy,"  and  by 
others  to  mean  "  crooked. "  The  river,  especially  in  its  lower 
portion,  would  fit  either  or  both.  The  fall  of  the  river  averages 
only  about  half  a  foot  per  mile,  and  throughout  its  course  it 
curves  and  winds  about,  not  abruptly  but  in  long  undulating 
turns,  through  its  rich  alluvial  bottoms,  which  in  some  places 
spread  out  to  a  width  of  3  miles.  Its  earthen  banks  are  low 
and  rounded,  and  covered  with  heavy  timber. 

KISHWAUKEE    RIVER 

Kishwaukee  River  is  formed  by  two  branches  which  unite 
about  12  miles  above  its  mouth.  The  northern  branch  rises  in 
the  Wisconsin  moraine  in  central  McHenry  county,  and  the 
southern  in  the  same  moraine  in  southern  DeKalb  county. 
Each  of  these  branches  is  about  50  miles  long,  the  whole  system 
draining  about  1,644  square  miles.  The  lower  part  of  the  river 
lies  in  drift  of  the  lowan  age,  while  the  upper  parts  are  in  that 
of  the  Wisconsin  age.  The  northern  branch  falls  about  25  feet 
in  the  first  3  miles,  and  below  this  the  descent  averages  two  and 
a  half  to  three  feet  per  mile.  The  southern  branch  is  a  little 
swifter,  with  an  average  fall  of  about  4  feet  per  mile.  The 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

waters  of  this  river  are  very  clear  compared  with  those  of  the 
Pecatonica.  The  banks  of  the  river  are  not  precipitous,  al- 
though rising  40  to  50  feet  high  at  some  points.  The  entire 
river  valley  is  low,  undulating,  semi-prairie  country,  more  or 
less  wooded. 

GREEN    RIVER 

Green  River  and  its  basin  are  quite  distinct  in  their  character 
from  the  other  tributaries  of  Rock  River  and  their  basins.  The 
drainage  basin  of  Green  River  covers  about  1,000  square  miles 
all  of  which  lies  on  a  lake-plain  of  sand  and  gravel  outwash  from 
the  Wisconsin  glacier,  the  river  following  for  most  of  its  course 
the  northern  boundary  line  of  the  Wisconsin  terminal  moraine. 
The  surface  soil  consists  of  peat,  underlaid  by  sand  and  gravel. 
Through  this  the  streams  have  found  difficulty  in  making  their 
way,  unable  to  cut  definite  channels  through  it  down  to  base 
level.  The  country  consequently  remains  very  imperfectly 
drained,  and  the  waters  gathering  between  the  sand-hills  have 
formed  great  peat  marshes  and  bogs.  Much  is  being  done  in 
late  years,  however,  toward  reclaiming  these  swamps  by  means 
of  extensive  tiling  and  ditching.  The  following  description  rep- 
resents the  condition  of  this  region  before  this  work  was  so  far 
advanced  as  it  is  at  present. 

Green  River  is  about  93  miles  long,  extending  from  eastern 
Lee  county  southwest  across  the  corner  of  Bureau  county  and 
then  west  through  Henry  county  to  its  northwest  corner,  there 
emptying  into  Rock  River.  Its  headwaters  are  found  in  the 
elevated  moraine  forming  the  border  of  the  Wisconsin  drift  in 
Southeastern  Lee  county,  and  stand  950  to  1,000  feet  above  tide. 
The  eastern  stream  descends  rapidly,  25  feet  in  a  mile,  to  the 
sandy  plain  outside  the  moraine.  There  it  soon  enters  the  Inlet 
swamps  lying  about  775  feet  above  tide.  These  swamps  are 
10  miles  long  and  2  to  5  miles  wide.  Through  them  the  stream 
has  no  definite  channel  but  seems  to  be  entirely  lost.  They  are 
mostly  covered  with  a  dense  prairie  grass  among  whose  roots  a 
thin  sheet  of  water  is  concealed  in  the  wet  seasons  of  the  year. 
Towards  the  center  the  water  is  deeper  and  patches  of  cattails 
and  rushes  abound.  From  the  western  edge  of  this  area,  two 
to  three  miles  southeast  of  Lee  Center,  the  surplus  waters  of  the 
swamps  are  gathered  into  a  stream  with  a  well-defined  channel. 
This  leads  westward  for  15  miles  to  another  wet  area,  the 
Winnebago  swamps,  making  a  descent  of  about  3  feet  per  mile. 
These  swamps  are  very  similar  to  the  Inlet  swamps  but  much 


THE  TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF    ILLINOIS  XXIX 

larger.  Hills  of  sand  rise  in  chains  and  clusters  from  the  midst 
of  them.  These  hills  were  originally  heaped  up  by  the  winds 
from  the  sands  of  the  old  lake-bed.  Some  of  them  are  40-50 
feet  high  and  are  covered  with  a  scattering  and  stunted  growth 
of  trees.  The  intervening  swamps  are  fringed  with  bands  of 
thick-growing  swamp  grass  on  a  miry,  mucky  soil.  Within 
these  are  inner  fringes  of  dense  cane-like  rushes  and  cattails 
growing  so  thick  and  tall  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  pene- 
trate them.  Then  come  stretches  of  clear  water  with  hard 
sand  bottoms.  In  the  next  25  miles,  to  the  crossing  of  the 
Bureau-Henry  county  line,  the  stream  has  a  poorly  denned 
channel,  meandering  about  through  a  series  of  marshes  among 
sand-hills  but  making  a  descent  of  60  feet.  In  the  remaining 
35  to  40  miles  to  its  mouth,  the  stream  falls  about  40  feet  and 
maintains  a  well-defined  channel.  In  the  lower  18  to  20  miles, 
below  Geneseo,  it  has  excavated  a  valley  fully  20  feet  in  average 
depth  and  nearly  half  a  mile  in  width.  In  this  section  of  its 
course  its  uplands  are  far  less  sandy. 

Along  the  whole  course  of  Green  River,  there  are  no  bold 
bluffs  except  at  Lee  Center,  where  some  low  outcrops  of  Galena 
dolomite  are  quarried. 

THE  NORTHWESTERN  AREA 

The  waters  of  extreme  northwestern  Illinois  differ  suffi- 
ciently in  condition  and  surroundings  from  those  of  the  smaller 
tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  farther  south  to  warrant  their 
separate  discussion  in  this  report.  The  surface  drained  by  them 
is  the  southernmost  part  of  a  tract  known  to  geologists  as  the 
Wisconsin  driftless  area,  a  region  not  covered  by  ice  during  the 
glacial  period,  and  consequently  wholly  destitute  of  glacial 
drift.  Because  of  its  prolonged  exposure  to  erosion  its  streams 
have  reached  the  limit  of  their  development,  and  run  usually 
through  deep  valleys  with  rather  a  swift  current,  mostly  unob- 
structed by  rapids  or  falls.  As  a  consequence  of  this  perfect 
drainage  and  rapid  flow,  the  surface  waters  quickly  escape  to 
the  Mississippi;  but  as  the  streams  are  fed  to  a  considerable 
extent  by  springs  flowing  from  the  limestone  rocks,  they  rarely 
are  completely  dry.  There  are  no  lakes,  swamps,  or  other 
reservoirs  for  the  sedimentation  of  the  surface  waters,  and  the 
streams  are  consequently  easily  roiled  by  storms,  in  the  intervals 
of  which,  however,  the  water  is  comparatively  clear. 


XXX  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

This  driftless  area  of  northwestern  Illinois  contains  about 
1,030  square  miles,  and  includes  all  of  Jo  Daviess  county,  two 
thirds  of  Carroll  county,  and  a  part  of  Stephenson.  The  surface 
is  rolling  and  somewhat  broken,  with  a  general  elevation  vary- 
ing between  700  and  1,000  feet,  but  rising  in  mounds  and  flat- 
topped  hills  to  the  highest  point  in  the  state,  an  elevation  known 
as  Charles  Mound,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  1,241  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea.  The  surface  rock  of  this  district  is  mainly 
Galena-Plat teville,  with  Maquoketa  shales  and  Niagara  lime- 
stone capping  the  higher  hills. 

The  principal  streams  of  this  region  are  Galena  River  to  the 
north  and  Apple  and  Plum  rivers  farther  south.  Many  addi- 
tional smaller  streams  run  down  from  the  hills  and  bluffs  to 
open  directly  into  the  Mississippi. 

GALENA  RIVER 

Galena  River,  called  Fever  River  on  many  maps,  rises 
chiefly  in  Lafaj^ette  county,  Wisconsin,  which  state  contains 
also  nearly  135  of  the  197  square  miles  of  its  drainage  basin. 
It  runs  with  a  rather  rapid  course  through  the  hilly  country 
of  western  Jo  Daviess  county,  often  over  a  rocky  bed,  becoming 
comparatively  broad  and  sluggish  as  it  crosses  the  Mississippi 
bottoms  west  of  the  town  of  Galena  to  empty  into  the  Missis- 
sippi River. 

APPLE   RIVER 

Apple  River  rises  in  Lafayette  county,  Wisconsin,  and  flows 
southeast,  then  southwest  and  finally  south,  emptying  into  the 
Mississippi  in  northern  Carroll  county,  Illinois.  It  has  a  length 
of  about  45  miles  and  drains  an  area  of  270  square  miles.  It 
crosses  the  state-line  at  an  elevation  of  about  950  feet,  while  its 
mouth  has  an  altitude  of  only  588  feet.  In  Jo  Daviess  county, 
the  upper  channel  of  the  river  is  narrow  and  the  banks  are 
steep  and  150  to  200  feet  high.  In  the  lower  part,  the  valley 
becomes  broader  and  the  banks  recede  until,  in  Carroll  county, 
the  river  enters  the  broad  bottom-lands  of  the  Mississippi. 

Except  for  the  headwaters  of  the  eastern  branch,  the  entire 
basin  lies  in  the  driftless  area  and  therefore  maintains  its  pre- 
glacial course.  It  has,  however,  received  a  marked  accession  of 
drainage  because  of  the  blocking  of  a  preglacial  tributary  of  the 
Pecatonica.  This  diversion  occurs  just  below  Melville,  and  for 
about  3  miles  below  this  point  the  stream  is  in  a  gorge  but  little 
wider  than  its  bed.  The  small  preglacial  Apple  River  is  then 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY    OP   ILLINOIS  XXXI 

entered.     Outcrops  of  the  Niagara  formation  occur  frequently 
along  the  bluffs. 

PLUM  RIVER 

Plum  River  rises  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Carroll  county, 
and,  following  a  westerly  and  southerly  direction  through  many 
windings  and  abrupt  turns,  finally  empties  into  the  Mississippi 
in  the  center  of  the  western  boundary  of  Carroll  county.  It 
rises  at  an  altitude  of  900  feet  but  descends  to  800  feet  in  the 
first  3  miles,  to  700  feet  in  the  next  two  and  one  half  miles,  and 
to  590  feet  in  the  remaining  32  miles  of  its  course.  The  banks 
are  often  150  feet  high,  and  in  some  places  are  very  abrupt, 
while  at  other  points  a  narrow  valley  of  one  eighth  to  one  fourth 
of  a  mile  intervenes.  It  is  33  miles  long,  and  drains  an  area  of 
307  square  miles. 

THE  MISSISSIPPI  BLUFF  DRAINAGE 

Under  this  head  are  included  all  of  the  small  streams  of 
western  Illinois  directly  tributary  to  the  Mississippi  below  those 
of  the  northwestern  area.  Those  here  briefly  described  are 
Edwards  River,  Pope  creek,  Henderson  River,  Bear  creek,  Bay 
creek,  and  Cahokia  River.  The  character  of  a  multitude  of 
others  may  be  sufficiently  inferred  from  those  of  this  list.  The 
area  drained  by  these  western  streams  includes  two  strips  of 
land  bordering  the  Mississippi,  one  above  and  the  other  two 
below  the  Illinois  basin.  It  consists  of  the  eastern  Mississippi 
bottoms,  varying  in  width  from  one  to  ten  miles,  and  of  high 
bluffs  rising  from  150  to  250  feet  above  the  river,  usually  of  loess, 
but  occasionally  with  precipitous  rock  exposures.  Many  of  the 
streams  rise  beyond  this  range  of  bluffs  on  the  western  prairies. 

EDWARDS   RIVER. 

Edwards  River  rises  in  southeastern  Henry  county,  in  two 
branches,  and  flows  westward  through  this  and  Mercer  county. 
In  the  western  part  of  the  latter  it  turns  southward  for  a  short 
distance  before  emptying  into  the  Mississippi  about  one  and  one 
half  miles  below  New  Boston.  Below  the  junction  of  its  two 
headwater  streams  the  course  of  the  river  is  remarkably  straight 
and  it  has  few  tributaries.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  its  basin 
lies  in  a  narrow  and  shallow  valley  between  two  ridges  having  a 
general  east- west  direction,  and  so  the  river  drains  only  this 
narrow  strip.  Pope  creek,  which  flows  parallel  with  it  on  the 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

south,  lies  in  another  such  valley.  Edwards  River  rises  at  an 
altitude  of  800  feet,  falls  50  feet  in  its  first  one  and  one  half 
miles,  and  another  50  feet  in  the  next  18  miles.  The  mouth  is 
about  520  feet  above  sea-level.  The  stream  has  a  length  of  67 
miles,  draining  an  area  of  446  square  miles. 

POPE    CREEK 

Pope  creek  rises  in  northern  Knox  county  and  flows  west- 
ward, emptying  into  the  Mississippi  almost  opposite  the  mouth 
of  Iowa  River.  It  rises  at  an  altitude  of  750  feet,  but  its  mouth 
lies  at  520  feet.  Its  length  is  about  50  miles,  and  its  drainage 
area  is  167  square  miles.  The  bluffs  bordering  the  river  are 
abrupt  and  often  reach  a  height  of  75  to  125  feet. 

HENDERSON    RIVER 

Henderson  River  rises  in  two  forks,  one  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  Knox  county  and  the  other  in  Warren  county,  and 
flows  westward  and  southward,  emptying  into  the  Mississippi 
at  the  center  of  the  western  border  of  Henderson  county.  It 
drains  much  of  northern  Henderson,  northern  Warren,  and  part 
of  Knox  county,  and,  although  having  a  total  length  of  scarcely 
77  miles,  it  furnishes  drainage  through  its  numerous  branches 
for  an  area  of  fully  500  square  miles.  It  rises  at  an  elevation  of 
800  feet,  and  descends  100  feet  in  its  first  10  miles,  but  below 
this  the  fall  is  gradual,  the  altitude  at  its  mouth  being  520  feet. 

BEAR   CREEK 

Bear  creek  drains  the  southwestern  part  of  Hancock  county 
and  the  northern  part  of  Adams — a  possible  area  of  518  square 
miles.  The  main  branch  rises  in  southern  Hancock  county  and 
flows  south  and  west  48  miles,  emptying  into  the  Mississippi 
opposite  Canton,  Mo.  The  source  of  this  stream  is  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  670  feet,  while  the  mouth  has  an  altitude  of  460  feet. 

BAY   CREEK 

Bay  creek  drains  a  large  part  of  Pike  county  and  a  little  of 
northern  Calhoun.  It  rises  in  northern  Pike  county  and  flows 
southeastward  toward  the  Illinois  River,  following  a  sag  be- 
tween two  Illinoisan  drift  ridges,  and  nearly  reaching  the  Illinois 
opposite  the  village  of  Bedford.  It  then  curves  to  the  south- 
west, passes  through  a  gap  in  the  rocky  ridge,  which  to  the 
north  and  south  constitutes  the  divide  between  the  Mississippi 
and  the  Illinois,  and  enters  the  Mississippi  opposite  the  town 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  XXX111 

of  Louisiana,  Mo.  The  deflection  to  the  west  is  due  to  the 
ridge  of  Illinoisan  drift  which  follows  the  east  border  of  the 
stream  and  prevents  it  from  entering  the  Illinois  valley.  The 
river  has  a  length  of  about  50  miles,  rising  at  an  altitude  of  850 
feet,  draining  222  square  miles,  but  falling  100  feet  in  its  first 
two  miles,  and  below  this  averaging  a  fall  of  nearly  7  feet  to  the 
mile  until  it  enters  the  Mississippi  flats.  The  mouth  is  at  an 
altitude  of  about  430  feet. 

CAHOKIA    RIVER 

Cahokia  River  rises  in  western  Montgomery  county, 
crosses  southern  Macoupin  county,  and  flows  south  and  west, 
emptying  into  the  Mississippi  near  East  St.  Louis.  It  is  about 
50  miles  long  and  drains  an  area  of  360  square  miles,  rising  at 
an  altitude  of  640  feet,  but  falling  120  feet  in  the  first  6  miles. 
Below  this  it  descends  to  425  feet  at  Wanda,  the  point  at  which 
it  crosses  the  Mississippi  bluffs  and  enters  the  bottom-lands  of 
that  river.  The  mouth  of  the  stream  has  an  elevation  of  about 
400  feet.  The  banks  above  Wanda  are  steep  and  abrupt,  rising 
100  feet  or  more  on  either  side  of  the  water. 

ILLINOIS  RIVER  SYSTEM 

The  Illinois  and  its  branches  drain  an  area  of  28,100  square 
miles,  distributed  among  three  states.  Of  this  area,  24,940 
square  miles  are  in  Illinois,  extending  in  a  broad  band,  267  miles 
long  and  averaging  100  miles  in  width,  directly  across  the 
center  of  the  state  in  a  northeast-southwest  direction.  From 
the  upper  extremity  of  this  band  are  two  projections:  one  north 
into  Wisconsin,  covering  1,020  square  miles  in  that  state;  the 
other  east  into  Indiana,  covering  3,140  square  miles  of  its 
northern  portion.  This  eastern  projection  forms  the  basin  of 
the  Kankakee  River,  while  the  northern  one  includes  the  basins 
of  the  Fox  and  Des  Plaines  rivers.  It  is  the  union  of  the  drainage 
of  these  two  projections  which  may  be  considered  as  the  origin 
of  the  Illinois,  this  name  being  applied  to  the  river  from  the 
point  of  junction  of  the  Kankakee  and  the  Des  Plaines  in  eastern 
Grundy  county,  Illinois.  The  Illinois  flows  westward  for  about 
55  miles,  turns  rather  abruptly  southwest  a  little  north  of 
Hennepin  and  follows  this  direction  until  it  empties  into  the 
Mississippi  at  the  southern  end  of  Calhoun  county.  The  river 
may  readily  be  divided  into  two  parts:  the  upper  Illinois,  con- 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

sisting  of  that  portion  of  the  river  above  the  turn  at  Hennepin; 
and  the  lower  Illinois,  below  this  point.  The  lower  part  of  the 
river  occupies  a  preglacial  valley,  the  southward  continuation 
of  the  preglacial  valley  occupied  by  Rock  River  in  southern 
Wisconsin  and  northern  Illinois.  The  upper  Illinois,  however, 
flows  through  an  interglacial  and  postglacial  valley,  the  old 
"Chicago  outlet."  This  outlet  was  the  line  of  southwest  ward 
discharge  from  the  basin  of  Lake  Michigan  across  the  low  divides 
near  Chicago  and  thence  down  the  Des  Plaines  and  Illinois  to  the 
Mississippi.  It  has  a  depth  ranging  from  20  to  70  feet,  the 
excavation  being  almost  entirely  in  beds  of  drift  except  for 
about  15  miles  between  Lemon  t  and  Joliet  and  40  miles  between 
Morris  and  Peru,  where  rock  strata  have  been  eroded.  Through- 
out its  entire  length  the  bluffs  are  steep  like  river  banks,  and 
the  deposits  made  by  side  streams  on  the  edge  of  the  valley 
are  very  meager — a  feature  which  indicates  that  the  stream  had 
great  volume,  probably  filling  the  channel  from  bluff  to  bluff, 
and  a  current  sufficiently  strong  to  carry  nearly  all  of  the  detritus 
brought  into  it  by  the  side  streams. 

Since  the  Illinois  is  formed  by  the  union  of  the  Des  Plaines 
and  the  Kankakee,  it  may  be  best  to  describe  those  streams  first. 

DES   PLAINES   RIVER 

The  Des  Plaines  drains  a  narrow  intermorainic  strip  ex- 
tending north  and  south  a  distance  of  90  miles  from  Kenosha 
county,  Wisconsin,  to  the  head  of  the  Illinois  in  eastern  Grundy 
county,  Illinois.  The  whole  drainage  basin  covers  an  area  of 
about  1,366  square  miles,  its  greatest  width  being  scarcely  2§ 
miles.  This  region  all  lies  within  the  Wisconsin  drift,  between 
two  rather  large  moraines  to  the  east  and  west  of  it,  and  con- 
taining many  smaller  moraines  which  have  prevented  the 
formation  of  good  natural  drainage-lines.  The  land  is,  conse- 
quently, very  imperfectly  drained,  and  contains  numerous  small 
lakes  and  marshes,  although  this  condition  has  been  much 
changed  by  extensive  systems  of  tiling.  A  series  of  measure- 
ments by  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  gives  for  the  average 
discharge  1,100  cubic  feet  per  second.  The  water  of  the  northern 
section  is  moderately  clear,  but  becomes  more  turbid  and 
polluted  lower  down.  The  bottom  of  the  river  and  its  tribu- 
taries is  largely  sand  and  gravel,  with  rock  in  its  portions  of 
swiftest  descent. 

The  Des  Plaines  has  its  source  in  an  extended  marshy  valley 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY    OF    ILLINOIS  XXXV 

in  Kenosha  county,  Wisconsin.  This  valley  is  so  nearly  level 
that  at  times  it  is  very  difficult  to  tell  which  way  the  water  flows. 
It  stands  112  feet  above  Lake  Michigan  (Leverett)  and  drains 
northward  into  Root  River  as  well  as  southward  into  the  Des 
Plaines.  The  Des  Plaines  flows  nearly  parallel  with  the  shore 
of  Lake  Michigan  to  a  point  about  10  miles  southwest  of  Chicago. 
It  then  turns  southwest  for  40  miles,  to  its  junction  with  the 
Kankakee.  The  course  of  the  upper  Des  Plaines  is  governed 
by  the  moraines  along  the  banks  of  Lake  Michigan,  following 
these  more  or  less  in  their  curves.  At  Summit  it  enters  into  the 
" Chicago  outlet."  At  flood  stages  the  upper  Des  Plaines  still 
discharges  into  Lake  Michigan  through  a  portion  of  this  old 
outlet  which  is  known  as  "Mud  Lake"  and  South  Chicago 
River.  Probably  the  entire  discharge,  until  recent  years,  has 
been  into  the  lake  instead  of  down  the  "Chicago  outlet,"  thus 
forming  a  system  entirely  distinct  from  the  lower  Des  Plaines. 
In  the  upper  portion  of  the  river  the  fall  averages  only  a  little 
over  1  foot  per  mile,  and  its  branches  are  almost  all  short  and 
small  on  account  of  the  moraines.  The  banks,  especially  on 
the  west,  are  quite  high,  in  some  places  reaching  a  height  of  50 
feet,  but  they  are  not  abrupt. 

In  the  40  miles  from  Summit  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  the 
valley  averages  about  1  mile  in  width  and  consists  of  a  rather 
shallow  trough  cut  out  of  limestone.  This  is  covered  with  a 
thin  bed  of  drift,  and  the  banks  of  the  river  are  consequently 
low.  Just  below  Summit  there  are  12  miles  which  are  almost 
level,  so  that  the  land  on  each  side  of  the  river  is  poorly  drained 
and  swampy.  Below  this  the  river  widens  into  Goose  Lake, 
three  and  a  half  miles  long  and  one  third  of  a  mile  wide,  through 
which  it  makes  a  descent  of  about  10  feet.  The  bed  of  the  river 
narrows  again,  and  just  above  Lockport  it  begins  to  descend 
very  rapidly,  dropping  about  70  feet  in  8  miles.  Below  this  are 
two  lakes — one,  known  as  Lake  Joliet,  2^  miles  below  Joliet, 
and  the  other,  Lake  Dupage,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Dupage 
River,  the  two  being  three  miles  apart,  and  the  river  falling 
about  13  feet  in  the  interval  (Leverett).  In  the  half  mile  from 
Lake  Dupage  to  the  junction  of  the  Des  Plaines  with  the  Kan- 
kakee another  descent  of  two  and  a  half  feet  is  made.  The 
only  true  flood-plain  bottoms  lie  within  the  seven  miles  between 
Lake  Joliet  and  the  head  of  the  Illinois.  These  are  within  the 
range  of  backwater  from  the  Kankakee,  but  are  overflowed 
only  in  case  of  floods  from  that  stream,  having  been  built  up 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


to  about  the  average  high-water  level.  A  canal,  100  miles 
long,  called  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal,  starts  from  Lake 
Michigan  at  Chicago,  and,  cutting  through  the  low  summit, 
enters  the  Des  Plaines  valley.  It  crosses  the  river  at  Joliet, 
and  then  follows  along  the  right  bank  of  this  river  and  of  the 
Illinois  to  Peru,  where  it  enters  the  latter  river. 

The  principal  branch  of  the  Des  Plaines  is  the  Dupage 
River,  which  rises  in  southern  Lake  county,  and,  flowing  south- 
ward, empties  into  the  Des  Plaines  only  4  miles  above  its  junction 
with  the  Kankakee.  It  is  about  50  miles  in  length,  and  drains 
about  366  square  miles  of  intermorainic  country.  It  is  a  swiftly 
moving  stream,  the  last  11  miles  of  its  course  having  a  fall  of 
80  feet.  Its  banks  are  generally  low  and  rolling. 

KANKAKEE    RIVER 

Kankakee  River  rises  in  a  large  marsh  about  three  miles 
southwest  of  South  Bend,  St.  Joseph  county,  Ind.  It  flows  in 
a  southwesterly  direction  to  the  southern  boundary  line  of 
La  Porte  county,  and  then  more  westerly,  crossing  the  Indiana- 
Illinois  state-line  in  southern  Lake  county,  Indiana.  It  then 
flows  a  little  south  of  west  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Kankakee, 
where  it  receives  the  Iroquois  from  the  south.  Thence  it  pro- 
ceeds almost  due  northwest  to  near  the  northeast  corner  of 
Grundy  county,  where  it  unites  with  the  Des  Plaines  to  form 
the  Illinois. 

The  Kankakee  is  about  140  miles  long;  85  .miles  lying  in 
Indiana.  Its  drainage  basin  covers  about  5,300  square  miles, 
of  which  3,140  square  miles  are  in  Indiana.  This  basin  has  its 
northern  limits  in  the  Valparaiso  morainic  system,  and  all  of 
the  important  northern  tributaries  find  their  sources  in  the 
same  system.  Its  southern  limits,  in  the  portion  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Iroquois,  are  found  in  the  Marseilles  moraine. 
The  Iroquois  rises  in  a  somewhat  distinct  area,  draining  basins 
south  of  the  Iroquois  and  Marseilles  moraines  and  passing 
through  a  gap  in  the  latter  moraine  to  enter  the  Kankakee. 
The  eastern  limits  of  the  Kankakee  basin  are  mainly  in  the 
Maxinkuckee  moraine  of  the  Saginaw  lobe. 

Probably  the  whole  of  the  Kankakee  basin  was  formerly  an 
old  lake,  called  now  by  geologists  Lake  Kankakee,  and,  at  the 
same  time  that  the  old  " Chicago  outlet"  was  full,  it  may  have 
been  a  line  of  discharge  for  the  St.  Joseph  River,  now  a  tribu- 
tary to  Lake  Michigan,  carrying  also  a  large  amount  of  glacial 
drainage  from  the  Saginaw  and  Lake  Michigan  lobes. 


THE  TOPOGRAPHY   AND  HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  XXXvii 

The  basin  of  the  Kankakee  is  generally  level,  but  near  the 
state-line,  at  Momence,  occurs  the  first  limestone  outcrop  in 
the  bed  of  the  river.  This  ledge  or  arch  has  so  prevented  the 
wearing  down  of  the  bed  that  a  very  large  part  of  the  drainage 
area  in  Indiana  is  one  vast  swamp.  From  its  source  to  the 
state-line  there  is  a  direct  distance  of  only  75  miles,  but  within 
this  distance  the  stream  makes  2,000  bends  and  flows  a  total 
length  of  240  miles.  The  difference  in  level  between  its  source 
and  the  state-line  is  but  97.3  feet,  showing  a  fall  of  but  1.3  feet 
to  the  mile.  (Indiana  Geological  Survey.)  The  winding  of 
the  river  reduces  the  fall  to  only  5  inches  to  the  mile.  Above 
its  junction  with  the  Yellow  River  the  amount  of  water  is  in- 
sufficient to  form  a  well-defined  channel.  The  water  has  an 
almost  imperceptible  flow,  and  in  many  places  wild  rice,  rushes, 
lily-pads,  and  aquatic  grasses  so  choke  the  channel  as  to  cause 
the  flooding  of  the  marshes  during  summer  freshets.  Below 
this  point,  however,  there  is  quite  a  definite  open  channel, 
although  the  small  tributaries  are  usually  lost  in  the  marsh 
before  reaching  the  main  stream.  On  the  immediate  border  of 
the  river  there  is  a  strip  ranging  in  width  from  one  fourth  to 
one  and  one  half  miles  which  is  heavily  timbered.  The  only  other 
timber  is  found  on  so-called  islands  whose  surfaces  rise  10  to  20 
feet  above  the  general  level  of  the  marsh.  The  open  marsh  is 
covered  with  a  rank  growth  of  wild  grasses,  bulrushes,  sedges, 
reeds,  wild  rice,  and  other  semiaquatic  vegetation.  Between 
the  woodland  bordering  the  river-bank  and  the  marsh,  as  well 
as  around  the  margin  of  most  of  the  islands,  there  are  dense 
thickets  of  elbow-brush,  willows,  etc.  In  1882  there  were 
almost  500,000  acres  of  marsh  land  within  the  valley  of  the 
Kankakee.  It  resembled  an  immense  sponge,  slowly  absorbing 
the  water  during  the  wet  season  and  as  slowly  giving  it  forth 
during  the  dry,  so  that  the  flow  throughout  the  year  was  quite 
regular  and  uniform  in  amount.  At  present,  on  account  of  the 
drainage  of  a  large  part  of  this  marsh,  the  water  flows  off  much 
sooner  after  it  falls,  and  consequently  the  river  is  higher  during 
the  autumn  and  spring  floods  and  lower  at  other  seasons  than 
formerly.  In  general  the  soil  of  the  marsh  is  a  dark,  sandy 
loam,  very  rich  in  organic  matter.  It  is  very  porous,  but  has 
the  power  to  take  up  and  retain  large  quantities  of  water. 

In  the  14  miles  below  Momence,  111.,  to  its  junction  with 
the  Iroquois,  there  is  a  descent  of  25  feet.  In  the  33.5  miles 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Iroquois  to  the  head  of  the  Illinois,  the 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

Kankakee  falls  103  feet,  or  an  average  of  3  feet  to  the  mile. 
There  are  rapids  near  Altorf  and  at  Wilmington,  where  sudden 
descents  of  20  feet  are  made.  In  Indiana,  as  stated  above,  the 
bed  of  the  river  is  composed  mainly  of  sand  and  fine  gravel, 
but  at  Momence  it  begins  to  flow  over  limestone,  and  from  that 
point  to  its  mouth  it  has  a  rock  bottom,  affording  good  founda- 
tions for  dams  for  utilizing  water-power  and  for  purposes  of 
navigation.  The  inner  valley  of  the  river  is  but  little  wider 
than  the  stream,  and  outside  this  there  is  a  broad  bottom 
averaging  about  2  miles  in  width. 

IROQUOIS   RIVER 

Iroquois  River  is  the  chief  tributary  of  the  Kankakee  in  this 
state.  It  rises  in  Jasper  county,  Indiana,  flows  southwest  until 
it  reaches  the  center  of  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  and  then  turns 
north,  emptying  into  the  Kankakee  at  Waldron,  Kankakee 
county.  It  is  about  87  miles  long  and  has  a  watershed  of  2,175 
square  miles,  much  of  which  is  imperfectly  drained.  Fully 
935  square  miles,  or  nearly  half  the  basin,  lies  in  Indiana.  This 
part  is  of  the  same  type  as  the  Kankakee  basin,  marshy  and 
sandy.  Just  before  the  river  reaches  Watseka,  Illinois,  it 
crosses  the  Iroquois  moraine,  and  then  traverses  what  was 
probably  once  a  temporary  lake-bed.  Sand  banks,  like  those 
along  the  Kankakee,  follow  its  valley. 

It  is  a  much  slower  stream  than  the  Kankakee  in  Illinois. 
For  the  first  12  miles  in  this  state  it  falls  only  about  two  and  a 
half  feet  per  mile.  Below  Watseka  it  descends  still  more 
gradually,  falling  only  10  feet  in  the  first  20  miles  and  another  10 
feet  in  the  last  9  miles  of  its  course.  The  Iroquois  is  about  half 
the  size  of  the  Kankakee  above  its  junction.  Although  it  rises 
in  the  swamp  region,  it  drains  a  much  greater  proportion  of  dry 
prairie  land  than  the  Kankakee,  and  therefore  is,  comparatively, 
a  " flashy"  stream.  Its  freshets  rise  sooner,  and  they  pass  off 
before  those  of  the  main  river.  In  the  region  around  Oilman,  in 
the  western  part  of  the  basin,  are  many  artesian  wells  which 
add  materially  to  the  flow  of  the  river  in  ordinary  low  water. 

ILLINOIS   RIVER 

Measured  by  its  relation  to  their  industrial  and  civic  in- 
terests, the  Illinois  is  by  far  the  most  important  river  to  the 
citizens  of  this  state.  Larger  streams  flow  along  our  boundaries, 
but  none  affects  so  closely  the  welfare  of  so  many  of  our  people. 
Indeed,  from  its  peculiar  position  and  its  relation  to  other 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF    ILLINOIS  XXxix 

waters,  it  has  always  been  an  especially  important  stream.  To 
the  early  explorers,  traders;  and  missionaries,  as  well  as  to  the 
aborigines  before  them,  it  furnished,  together  with  the  Des 
Plaines  and  the  Chicago  portage,  one  of  the  most  frequently 
traveled  waterways  through  the  interior  of  the  country,  and 
the  settlements  along  its  banks  were  among  the  earliest  in  the 
state.  At  a  later  period  it  became  a  useful  commercial  high- 
way, a  function  which  it  now  seems  certain  to  resume,  at  no 
distant  day,  on  a  scale  of  national  importance.  Its  yield  of 
fishery  products  is  greater  than  that  of  all  the  other  waters  of 
the  state  combined,*  and  it  serves  an  indispensable  purpose  to 
the  City  of  Chicago  and  to  the  principal  towns  upon  its  banks 
in  conveying  away  their  liquid  wastes,  which  it  renders  harmless 
by  decomposition  and  useful  by  converting  them  more  or  less 
directly  into  a  food  supply  for  fishes. 

The  Illinois  may  be  regarded  as  in  many  respects  a  typical 
stream  of  the  central  prairies  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  peculiar 
now,  however,  in  the  enormous  amount  of  sewage  which  it  car- 
ries— mainly  received  from  Chicago  by  way  of  the  drainage 
canal — together  with  the  large  amount  of  refuse  from  distilleries 
and  cattle-yards  along  its  course.  It  flows,  in  most  of  its  length, 
down  the  bed  of  an  ancient  outlet  of  Lake  Michigan,  by  which 
the  waters  of  that  lake  were  conveyed  to  the  Mississippi  River. 
Within  this  bed  it  has  excavated  its  own  present  channel,  with 
its  present  bottom-lands  or  " first  bottoms,"  subject  to  overflow 
at  high  water.  Its  second  bottoms,  above  the  reach  of  high 
water,  are  the  flood-plain  of  the  former  outlet  of  the  lake.  This 
ancient  channel  varies  in  width  from  1J/2  to  6  miles,  or,  if  th^ 
flood-plain  of  the  older  river  be  also  included,  to  a  maximum 
width  of  20  miles,  the  bluffs  on  either  side  ranging  in  altitude  from 
450  to  800  feet.  The  highest  points  of  these  bluffs  are  near  Peoria, 
and  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  in  Calhoun  county.  The  water- 
sheds bounding  the  river  basin  range  in  height  from  700  to  1,000 
feet  above  the  sea,  the  average  elevation  being  600  or  700  feet. 

The  length  of  the  Illinois  from  its  origin  in  the  junction  of  the 
Kankakee  and  the  Des  Plaines  is  approximately  273  miles;  or,  if 
its  longest  tributary,  the  Kankakee,  be  added,  the  total  is  413 
miles.  The  length  of  the  stream  itself  is  28  per  cent,  greater  than 
that  of  a  straight  line  from  its  origin  to  its  mouth — an  unusually 
small  percentage  for  the  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi.  It  takes, 

*In  1899  the  total  value  of  the  product  of  the  fisheries  of  Illinois  was  $616,452,  and  that 
of  the  fisheries  of  the  Illinois  River  was  $382,372. 


Xl  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

in  other  words,  an  uncommonly  direct  course.  The  area  of  its 
basin  is  approximately  29,000  square  miles,  28,100  of  which  lie 
within  Illinois,  1,020  square  miles  in  Wisconsin,  and  3,140  in 
Indiana.  Its  basin  thus  comprises  about  three  sevenths  of  the 
area  of  the  state.  It  extends  diagonally  across  the  center  of  Illi- 
nois from  the  northeast  to  the  southwest  as  a  broad  belt  about  a 
hundred  miles  in  width,  the  upper  end  of  which  expands  in  a  Y- 
shaped  area  to  embrace  the  southwest  part  of  Lake  Michigan. 
The  northern  arm  of  the  "  Y"  is  formed  by  the  basin  of  the  Des 
Plaines,  and  the  eastern  arm  by  the  more  extensive  basin  of  the 
Kankakee.  From  its  origin,  fifty  miles  southwest  of  Chicago,  it 
runs  almost  due  west  some  sixty  miles  to  a  point  not  far  above 
Hennepin,  where  it  turns  abruptly  towards  the  left,  flowing 
southwest  by  south  a  hundred  and  sixty-five  miles  (two  hundred 
and  five  by  river)  to  its  union  with  the  Mississippi,  twenty-five 
miles  above  St.  Louis.  Its  bottom-lands  have  an  average  width 
of  3.1  miles,  from  Utica  to  the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  immediate 
banks  of  the  stream  are  usually  higher  than  the  adjacent  sur- 
faces, and  the  same  may  be  said  of  its  tributary  streams  where 
they  flow  through  the  bottoms  of  the  Illinois.  Bayous,  lagoons, 
marshes,  and  temporary  ponds  occur  along  the  course  of  the 
river,  especially  in  its  central  portion  from  Hennepin  to  Mere- 
dosia,  all  subject  to  invasion  or  obliteration  by  the  river  in  times 
of  flood,  but  filled,  at  low  water,  either  from  springs  or  from  the 
general  drainage  of  their  basins.  Spring-fed  lakes  are  rather 
common  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  from  Pekin  to  its 
mouth,  deriving  their  waters  from  the  rainfall  collected  by  the 
second  bottoms,  at  whose  margin  they  usually  lie. 

This  large  area  of  marshes,  lagoons,  and  lakes  affects  the 
life  of  the  river  in  many  important  ways.  The  flood-plain  serves 
as  a  storage  area  for  the  waters  of  overflow,  greatly  delaying  the 
run-off  at  times  of  flood.  This  delay  is  still  further  prolonged, 
in  many  years,  by  high  water  in  the  Mississippi,  which  often 
extends  far  up  the  Illinois — in  a  few  instances  as  much  as  a 
hundred  miles.  As  a  result  of  these  conditions  the  average 
volume  of  water  in  the  stream  throughout  the  year  is  greatly 
increased,  and  a  wider  range  and  breeding  ground  and  a  greater 
food  supply  are  afforded  to  the  fishes  of  the  stream. 

The  fall  in  the  Illinois  River  is  but  slight — an  average  of  .267 
of  a  foot  per  mile  of  its  total  length.  Fifty  and  seven  tenths  feet 
of  this  fall  occur  in  the  first  forty- two  miles  of  its  course,  and 
from  Utica  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  the  total  fall  is  but  31  feet, 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  xli 

or  an  average  of  .137  of  a  foot  to  the  mile.  The  effect  of  this 
slight  fall  is  seen  in  the  sluggish  current  of  the  Illinois,  which 
ranges  from  .4  of  a  mile  per  hour  at  the  lowest  water  to  1.737 
miles  when  at  twelve  feet  above  low-water  mark.  The  usual  rate 
of  flow  for  ordinary  stages  varies,  however,  from  1  J£  to  2 1/2  miles 
per  hour.  The  difference  between  low- water  and  high-water  con- 
ditions is  immense  in  many  ways,  especially  because  of  the  great 
expansion  of  water  surface  resulting  from  slight  changes  in  level. 
The  annual  range  in  river  levels,  as  recorded  at  Copperas  Creek 
dam,  in  the  twenty-one  years  from  1879  to  1899  inclusive,  varied 
from  8.9  feet  in  1894  to  17.7  feet  in  1882.  It  is  estimated  that  the 
area  and  volume  of  the  river  are  not  far  from  a  hundred  times  as 
great  at  the  highest  water  as  at  the  lowest,  and  the  conditions  of 
aquatic  life  are  thus  enormously  affected.  The  contrasts  pre- 
sented by  the  Illinois  River  at  high  water  and  at  low  water 
respectively  are  graphically  set  forth  by  Kofoid  in  his  report  on 
the  plankton  work  of  the  Natural  History  Survey,  published 
in  Volume  VI.  of  the  State  Laboratory  Bulletin. 

"A  trip  by  boat,"  he  says,  " across  the  submerged  bottom- 
lands from  the  Quiver  shore  [on  the  east  bank,  2%  miles  above 
Havana]  to  the  western  bluff  in  the  latter  part  of  May  would  be 
far  more  enlightening  than  any  description  that  might  be  given. 
As  we  leave  the  sandy  shore  of  Quiver  we  traverse  the  clear, 
cold,  and  spring-fed  water  along  the  eastern  bank  with  its  rapidly 
growing  carpet  of  Ceratophyllum  [horn wort],  and  in  a  few  rods 
note  the  increasing  turbidity,  rising  temperature,  and  richer  plank- 
ton of  the  water  which  has  moved  down  from  the  more  or  less 
open  and  slightly  submerged  bottom  to  the  north.  As  we  cross 
the  muddy  bank  of  Quiver  ridge  and  enter  the  main  channel  of 
the  river  we  find  rougher  water,  caused  by  the  wind  which  usually 
sweeps  up  or  down  the  stream  with  considerable  force  between 
the  bordering  forests.  The  water  also  appears  much  more  turbid 
by  reason  of  silt  and  plankton,  and  no  trace  of  vegetation  is  to 
be  seen  save  occasional  masses  of  floating  Ceratophyllum  or  iso- 
lated plants  of  Lemna,  Wolffia,  or  Spirodela  [duckweeds].  Huge 
masses  of  cattle-yard  refuse,  veritable  floating  gardens,  may  also 
at  times  be  seen  moving  down  the  channel  or  stranded  in  some 
eddy  along  shore.  As  we  plunge  into  the  willow  thicket  on  the 
western  shore  we  have  to  pick  our  way  through  the  accumulated 
drift  lodged  in  the  shoals  or  caught  by  the  trunks  of  the  trees  or 
the  submerged  underbrush.  The  surface  of  the  water  is  one  mat 
of  logs,  brush,  sticks,  bark,  and  fragments  of  floating  vegetation. 


Xlii  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

with  its  interstices  filled  with  Lemnacece  [duckweed]  dotted  with 
the  black  statoblasts  of  Plumatella.  From  this  dark  labyrinth 
we  emerge  to  the  muddy  but  quiet  waters  of  Seeb's  Lake  with 
its  treacherous  bottom  of  soft  black  ooze.  We  next  enter  a  wider 
stretch  of  more  open  territory  with  scattered  willows  and  maples 
and  a  rank  growth  of  semiaquatic  vegetation,  principally  Polyg- 
onums  [heart-weed].  The  water  is  clearer  and  of  a  brownish 
tinge  (from  the  diatoms),  while  mats  of  alga?  adhere  to  the  leaves 
and  stems  of  the  emerging  plants.  A  flock  of  startled  water- 
fowl leave  their  feeding  grounds  as  we  pass  into  the  wide  expanse 
of  Flag  Lake.  We  push  our  way  through  patches  of  lily-pads 
and  beds  of  lotus,  past  the  submerged  domes  of  muskrat  houses 
built  of  last  year's  rushes,  and  thread  our  way,  through  devious 
channels,  among  the  fresh  green  flags  and  rushes  just  emerging 
from  the  water.  Open  patches  of  water  here  and  there  mark  the 
areas  occupied  by  the  "moss"  or  Ceratophyllum,  as  yet  at  some 
depth  below  the  surface.  The  Lemnacece  are  everywhere  lodged 
in  mats  and  windrows,  and,  amidst  their  green,  one  occasionally 
catches  sight  of  a  bright  cluster  of  Azolla.  The  water  is  clear 
and  brownish  save  where  our  movements  stir  the  treacherous 
and  mobile  bottom.  We  now  enter  a  second  time  the  partially 
wooded  country,  and  cross  the  submerged  ridge  to  the  sandy 
eastern  shore  of  Thompson's  Lake.  This  ridge  is  covered  by 
submerged  vegetation  which  has  as  yet  attained  but  little 
growth.  The  " breaks"  of  the  startled  fish  show  that  we  have 
invaded  favorite  feeding  grounds.  The  waters  are  evidently 
moving  towards  the  river,  and  they  bear  the  rich  plankton  of 
Thompson's  Lake,  while  their  turbidity  is  doubtless  increased  by 
the  movements  of  the  fish.  Schools  of  young  fry  can  be  seen  feed- 
ing upon  the  plankton  in  the  warm  and  quiet  waters.  Thomp- 
son's Lake,  the  largest  expanse  of  water  in  the  neighborhood, 
is  wont  to  be  rough  in  windy  weather,  but  if  the  day  be  still  we 
can  see  the  rich  aquatic  vegetation  which  fringes  its  margin  and 
lies  in  scattered  masses  toward  its  southern  end.  Its  waters 
seem  somewhat  turbid,  but  more  from  plankton  than  from  silt, 
though  the  deep  soft  mud  which  forms  much  of  its  bottom  is 
easily  stirred.  The  slender  transparent  limnetic  young  of  the 
gizzard-shad  may  be  seen  swimming  near  the  surface.  There  is 
a  perceptible  drift  to  the  south  in  the  open  lake,  though  this 
current  is  deflected  by  the  elevated  banks'  of  Spoon  River 
towards  the  Illinois  River,  crossing  the  lower,  bottom-lands  above 
this  region.  If  we  push  on  through  the  fringing  willows  at  the 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AXD   HYDROGRAPHY    OF    ILLINOIS  xliii 

south  we  find  a  series  of  open  places  locally  known  as  "  ponds. " 
The  warm  still  waters  are  turbid  in  places  from  the  movements 
of  fish,  and  at  times  we  see  the  compact  schools  of  young  dogfish 
(Amia,  calva)  and,  if  we  are  late  enough  in  the  season,  the  myriads 
of  young  black,  tadpole-like  catfish  (Ameiurus),  likewise  in 
schools,  while  young  carp  (Cyprinus  carpio)  are  everywhere. 
The  new  vegetation  is  already  springing  from  the  decaying  and 
matted  stems  of  the  preceding  summer.  Turning  back  towards 
the  river  we  pass  through  the  heavy  timber  where  the  still  brown 
water,  cool  and  clear,  overlies  the  decaying  leaves  and  vegeta- 
tion of  last  season's  growth,  now  coated  with  the  flood  deposits 
of  the  winter.  Emerging  again  upon  the  river  channel,  we  may 
find  a  turbid  yellow  flood  pouring  out  from  Spoon  River,  bring- 
ing down  its  load  of  drift  and  earth,  and  marking  its  course  down 
the  stream  as  far  as  the  eye  can  see. 

******* 

"Contrast  with  the  extent  and  variety  of  conditions  at  flood 
the  limitations  placed  upon  the  stream  at  low  water.  Instead  of 
an  unbroken  expanse  of  four  or  more  miles  we  find  now  a 
stream  only  500  feet  in  width,  while  the  adjacent  territory  is  dry 
land  save  where  the  sloughs,  marshes,  and  lakes  remain  as  res- 
ervoirs. Quiver  Lake  is  now  much  reduced  in  width,  and  it  may 
be  choked  with  vegetation  except  in  a  narrow  channel  where  the 
clear  water  shows  little  or  no  current.  A  half  mile  below  we 
find  the  river  water  rushing  in  a  narrow  " cut-off"  across  the 
ridge  of  black  alluvium  into  the  lower  end  of  the  lake.  The 
wooded  banks  which  separate  the  river  from  Quiver  and  Seeb's 
lakes  are  now  crowded  with  a  rank  growth  of  weeds  and  vines. 
The  latter  "lake"  is  reduced  to  a  shallow  stagnant  arm  of  the 
river,  whose  warm  turbid  waters  are  foul  with  dead  mollusks,  and 
whose  reeking  mud-flats  beneath  the  August  sun  shine  green  and 
red  with  a  scum  of  Euglena.  As  we  pick  our  way  through  the 
tangle  of  rank  vegetation  we  come  upon  Flag  Lake,  now  a  sea  of 
rushes.  The  discharge  from  this  marsh  to  the  river  ceased  in  the 
early  summer,  and  its  margins  are  even  now  dry,  with  gaping 
cracks.  Beyond  the  marsh  we  pass  to  the  shore  of  Thompson's 
Lake  to  find  its  southern  end  choked  with  vegetation,  though  the 
greater  part  to  the  north  is  open  water.  The  woodland  and 
open  ground  to  the  south  are  now  pastures  and  fields  of  waving 
corn.  The  only  outlet  to  this  large  body  of  water,  now  somewhat 
reduced  in  area  but  warm,  turbid,  and  rich  in  plankton,  is  a 
tortuous  slough  six  miles  to  the  north.  The  discharge,  how- 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


ever,  is  in  any  case  but  slight,  the  lake  being,  indeed,  not  infre- 
quently the  recipient  of  river  water.  Spoon  River  still  pours  a 
sluggish  but  constant  stream  into  the  river,  but  save  for  a 
waterbloom  of  livid  green  (Euglena)  its  waters  yield  but  little 
plankton.  Thus,  of  all  the  wide  area  contributing  to  the  plankton 
of  the  channel  at  high  water  there  now  remain  only  Thompson's 
and  Quiver  lakes  and  Spoon  River,  each  much  diminished  in 
volume,  but  all  diversified  in  character. 

"  Returning  now  to  the  river  itself  we  find  a  gently  sloping 
bank  of  black  mud,  baked  and  cracked  by  the  sun's  heat,  ex- 
tending towards  the  softer  deposit  at  the  water's  margin.  A  low 
growth  of  grasses,  sedges,  and  weeds  springs  up  as  the  water 
recedes.  The  river  margin  does  not  often  have  much  aquatic 
vegetation.  In  low-water  years,  such  as  1894  and  1895,  a  con- 
siderable fringe  is  formed  along  the  shore,  but  this  is  quickly 
cleaned  out  on  the  seining  grounds,  which  occupy  a  large  part  of 
the  shore,  as  soon  as  the  fishing  season  opens  in  July.  In  years 
of  normal  high-  water  the  vegetation  rarely  gets  much  of  a 
foothold  along  the  shores,  even  at  low-water  stages.  Save  for 
the  few  sandy  banks  where  springs  abound,  such  as  those 
below  Havana  along  the  eastern  bluff,  there  is  little,  at  least  in 
the  La  Grange  pool,  to  vary  this  monotony  of  mud  banks  and 
fringing  willows.  The  backwaters  have  been  reduced  to  the 
lakes,  sloughs,  bayous,  and  marshes  which  abound  everywhere 
in  the  bottom-lands.  Many  of  these,  as,  for  example,  Phelps  and 
Flag  lakes,  have  ceased  in  their  reduced  condition  to  contribute 
to  the  river.  Others,  like  Thompson's  Lake,  maintain  a  connec- 
tion with  the  river  by  means  of  a  long  and  tortuous  bayou  or 
slough  through  which  the  current  flows  in  or  out  as  the  relative 
levels  of  the  two  fluctuate.  This  lake  receives  but  little  water 
from  a  few  springs  and  creeks  along  the  bluffs,  and  like  many 
others  in  the  bottom-lands  serves  only  as  a  reservoir  from  which 
the  wateri  s  slowly  drawn  off  as  the  river  falls,  but  when  once 
the  lower  stages  are  reached  its  contributions  cease.  Still  others, 
like  Quiver  and  Matanzas,  maintain  direct  and  open  connection 
with  the  river,  and  since  they  receive  tributary  streams  they 
continue  to  feed  the  river,  but  in  reduced  volume.  Though  the 
number  of  tributary  areas  is  thus  much  reduced  at  low-water 
stages,  the  individual  peculiarities  of  the  tributary  waters  in  the 
bottom-lands  become  more  pronounced.  As  each  one  loses  its 
connection  with  the  general  flood  it  becomes  a  separate  unit  of 
environment,  with  its  local  differences  in  those  factors  which  de- 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  xlv 

termine  the  character  of  the  plankton  developing  in  its  waters. 
The  resulting  contributions  may  thus  differ  greatly  in  amount 
and  component  organisms,  and  accordingly  tend  to  diversify 
the  river  plankton  of  low  water  to  a  degree  even  more  marked 
than  that  of  high  water. 

"With  the  confinement  of  the  river  waters  to  the  channel 
goes  a  marked  condensation  of  the  sewage,  which,  under  con- 
ditions of  uninterrupted  low  water,  leads  at  times  to  an  excessive 
development  of  the  plankton,  or,  if  the  river  is  closed  by  ice,  to 
stagnation  conditions.  But  few  years,  however,  offer  such  op- 
portunites;  for,  as  a  rule,  in  most  low- water  periods  sudden  and 
heavy  rains  are  wont  to  occur,  which  flush  the  stream,  wash 
away  the  sewage  and  plankton-laden  waters,  and  store  anew 
the  reservoir  lakes  without  causing  any  considerable  overflow. 
After  each  catastrophe  of  this  sort  the  decline  of  the  flood  affords 
a  new  and  favorable  opportunity  for  the  development  of  the 
plankton."' 

The  effects  of  change  of  temperature,  of  differences  of 
turbidity,  of  chemical  conditions  of  the  waters  of  the  stream, 
and  the  like,  are  discussed  at  length  in  Dr.  Kofoid's  report. f 

As  a  framework  to  this  sketch  of  the  Illinois  River  and  the 
waters  of  the  Illinois  basin  generally,  an  outline  of  its  geological 
surroundings  is  essential.  From  its  source  to  Peoria  the  river 
flows  through  a  district  covered  by  the  Wisconsin  drift.  From 
Peoria  to  southern  Pike  county  the  outlines  of  its  western  border 
are  covered  by  the  Illinois  drift  capped  by  loess.  From  thence 
southward  they  are  nearly  free  from  glacial  drift,  but  are  heavily 
coated  with  loess,  while  those  on  the  east  have  a  moderate 
covering  of  Illinois  drift  capped  by  loess.  Within  the  Wisconsin 
drift  the  marshes,  bogs,  and  lakes  are  of  small  extent,  but  the 
drainage  lines  are,  on  the  whole,  rather  imperfectly  developed. 

The  portion  of  the  basin  lying  in  the  Illinoisan  is  much 
better  drained.  There  are  almost  no  marshes  or  swamps  in  it, 
except  those  in  the  bottoms  of  the  river  itself,  but  there  are 
numerous  shallow  valleys  which  are  poorly  drained. 

The  Illinois,  as  stated  before,  follows  the  old  "  Chicago 
outlet"  as  far  as  its  curve  near  Hennepin.  In  the  41  miles 
from  the  junction  of  the  Des  Plaines  and  the  Kankakee  down 
to  Utica,  where  apparently  a  small  preglacial  tributary  of  the 
Illinois  is  entered,  the  course  of  the  present  Illinois  is  independent 

*Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol  VI..  Art.  II..  pp.  151-156. 
fLoc.  cit.,  pp.  168-252. 


XM  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

of  preglacial  drainage  lines.  Almost  midway  of  its  westward 
course  it  crosses  the  Marseilles  moraine.  This,  no  doubt,  for 
a  considerable  period  held  a  lake  in  the  basin  at  the  head  of  the 
river,  the  Morris  basin,  but  was  eventually  cut  down  to  the  bed 
of  this  basin.  From  the  Marseilles  moraine,  westward,  the 
channel  found  no  prominent  drift  barriers  to  remove,  but  has 
been  compelled  to  cut  down  50  to  75  feet  into  the  rock  in  opening 
an  outlet  from  the  Morris  basin  into  the  valley  of  the  lower 
Illinois  (Leverett). 

The  part  of  the  " Chicago  outlet"  lying  within  the  Morris 
basin  has  an  average  width  of  4  to  5  miles.  A  law  bluff,  formed 
on  the  northern  border  of  the  basin,  has  a  height  of  15  to  20 
feet,  but  on  the  southern  border  there  is  no  bluff,  that  side 
being  heavily  coated  with  deposits  of  sand.  Below  Morris  the 
width  of  the  outlet  averages  only  about  one  and  a  half  miles. 
The  excavation  is  largely  in  soft  St.  Peter  sandstone,  there 
being  nearly  continuous  rock  bluffs  to  a  height  of  60  to  75  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  bed  of  the  outlet.  In  some  places,  as  at 
Starved  Rock,  the  bluffs  reach  a  height  of  126  feet.  Buffalo 
Rock  stands  out  in  the  valley,  a  big  rocky  island. 

In  the  41  miles  to  the  foot  of  the  rapids  near  Utica  the 
stream  falls  47  feet,  or  slightly  more  than  1  foot  to  the  mile 
(Leverett).  This  fall  is  far  from  regular,  there  being  a  series 
of  rock  rapids  separated  by  pools. 

In  the  Morris  basin  the  shale  bottom  has  been  eroded  in 
places  by  the  current  and  the  hollows  have  been  filled  with 
sand,  but  from  the  Morris  basin  to  the  bend  of  the  river  the 
rock  floor  is  swept  clean. 

The  old  preglacial  valley  through  which  the  lower  Illinois 
flows,  and  where  rock  bed  lies  many  feet  below  the  bottom  of  the 
present  river,  seems  to  have  been  so  imperfectly  filled  by  glacial 
deposits  that  throughout  nearly  its  entire  length  the  stream  is  re- 
established in  its  old  course.  The  valley  ranges  in  width  from 
two  and  a  half  to  fully  fifteen  miles.  Its  greatest  width  is 
reached  just  above  the  mouth  of  the  Sangamon.  The  valley  is 
also  very  broad  at  the  bend  of  the  Illinois.  The  narrowest  por- 
tions are  a  short  section  near  Peoria,  where  it  passes  through  the 
Shelbyville  moraine,  and  a  section  embracing  the  lower  60  miles, 
where  it  traverses  the  Mississipian  and  the  Silurian  limestones. 

The  Illinois  River  bottom-lands  are  covered  with  patches  of 
timber,  sand  banks,  mud-flats,  and  meadows.  A  good  deal  of 
this  area  is  too  low  and  marshy  for  cultivation,  full  of  swarnps, 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS 

bogs,  bayous,  and  lagoons,  many  of  the  latter  being  parts  of  old 
channels  of  the  stream  which  have  been  cut  off  and  rilled  up  at 
both  ends  as  a  consequence  of  local  changes  in  the  course  of  the 
stream;  but  where  the  elevation  is  sufficient  the  soil  is  a  rich 
sandy  loam.  An  example  of  this  is  found  in  the  "Crow  Mead- 
ows" in  Marshall  county.  This  tract  of  land  is  a  broad  table- 
land or  second  bottom  extending  from  the  north  line  of  the 
county  down  to  Sparland,  widening  near  Henry  to  eight  or  nine 
miles  between  the  river  and  the  low  bluff-line  on  the  west.  It 
is  beyond  the  reach  of  inundations,  and  is  of  unsurpassed  fertility, 
although  it  contains  much  sand.  The  bluffs  rise  on  each  side  of 
the  bottom-lands  very  abruptly  in  most  places,  and  to  a  height 
reaching  at  times  125  to  150  feet,  cut  into  sharp  ridges  by  the 
valleys  of  the  small  streams  that  drain  the  adjacent  regions. 
They  are  all  thickly  timbered. 

The  current  of  the  Illinois  from  La  Salle  to  its  mouth  is  not 
sufficient  to  carry  off  the  material  brought  in  from  the  upper 
portion  of  the  stream,  and  therefore  it  is  in  the  process  of  silting 
up.  During  the  interglacial  period  when  the  land-slope  was 
much  less,  this  part  of  the  river  became  so  filled  that  now  the  rock 
bottom  lies  about  100  feet  below  the  present  bed  of  the  river. 

The  principal  tributaries  of  the  Illinois  are  the  Fox,  Ver- 
milion, Mackinaw,  Sangamon,  and  Spoon  rivers,  and  Macoupin, 
Crooked,  and  Apple  creeks. 

FOX   RIVER 

Fox  River  rises  in  Waukesha  county,  Wisconsin,  a  little 
northwest  of  Milwaukee.  It  flows  south  and  southwest, 
emptying  into  the  Illinois  River  at  Ottawa,  111.  Its  drainage 
basin  is  about  130  miles  in  length  and  averages  20  miles  in  width, 
covering  an  area  of  about  2,580  square  miles,  of  which  1,020  lie 
in  Wisconsin.  The  length  of  the  river  is  about  172  miles. 

The  low-water  discharge  is  estimated  to  be  526  cubic  feet 
per  second,  or  0.195  cubic  feet  per  second  per  square  mile.  It 
is  claimed  that  the  stream  has  fallen  off  one-half  in  its  low-water 
volume  since  the  clearing  and  cultivating  of  the  land  and  the 
draining  of  the  swamps. 

The  drainage  basin  of  the  Fox  lies  entirely  within  the  limits 
of  the  Wisconsin  glaciation,  and  is  an  undulating  prairie  land 
with  more  or  less  woodland  and  some  swamps.  In  this  region 
the  morainic  ridges  lie  very  close  together  and  are  often  inter- 
laced, thus  making  cups  or  kettles  within  which  lakes  were 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

formed.  Some  of  these  lakes  have  been  drained  so  thoroughly 
that  they  have  become  small  prairies,  while  in  other  places  they 
have  been  unable  to  cut  down  their  outlets  sufficiently.  We 
have,  consequently,  a  series  ranging  from  quiet  land-locked 
ponds  with  gravel  bottoms  to  marshes  differing  but  little  from 
the  ordinary  wet  prairie  or  slough,  peat  bogs,  and  the  dry 
prairie  land.  The  bed  of  the  swamps  is  generally  more  or  less 
peaty,  varying  in  composition  from  ordinary  black  swamp 
muck  to  true  peat.  A  few  of  the  lakes  are  from  four  to  seven 
miles  in  length  and  a  mile  or  more  in  breadth,  while  the  others 
usually  cover  only  one  or  two  square  miles,  or  even  less.  These 
numerous  lakelets,  ponds,  marshes,  and  bogs  furnish,  in  their 
aggregate,  a  considerable  storage  for  flood  waters,  and  the  volume 
of  the  stream  is  consequently  comparatively  uniform  and  its 
changes  of  level  are  relatively  slow.  The  water  of  the  upper 
reaches  of  the  river  are  usually  clear  except  in  times  of  flood,  but 
the  lower  part  of  the  stream  is  often  very  impure.  Though 
much  of  the  river  bed  below  Elgin  is  in  rock,  the  tributaries  often 
bring  large  amounts  of  sediment,  and  various  manufactories  along 
the  river  discharge  a  large  amount  of  refuse  into  the  stream,  and 
it  has,  of  late  years,  become  so  foul  that  nearly  all  fish  except 
carp  and  other  filth-enduring  species  have  been  drowned  out. 

For  a  distance  of  nearly  75  miles  from  its  source  Fox  River 
drains  only  a  narrow  strip  among  the  morainic  ridges  of  the 
composite  belt,  its  course  being  determined  by  a  moraine  lying 
on  either  side.  In  this  portion  of  its  course  its  fall  amounts  to 
only  a  few  inches  to  the  mile,  and  its  bed  expands  at  frequent 
intervals  into  lakes  and  marshes  between  which  are  short 
stretches  having  narrow  and  well-defined  channels.  The  river, 
here,  has  no  valley,  but  the  stream  averages  150  to  200  feet  in 
width,  flowing  between  gravel  and  clay  banks.  In  some  places 
it  runs  close  to  the  bluff,  while  in  others  a  low  flood-plain  inter- 
venes. Its  tributaries  in  this  section  are  very  small,  all  occupy- 
ing deep  parallel  valleys  running  in  an  east  and  west  direction 
and  only  turning  southward  when  they  reach  the  lowlands 
bordering  the  river.  All  of  the  lakes  lie  along  the  line  of  these 
intermorainic  valleys.  Among  those  tributary  to  Fox  River 
are  Lake  Geneva,  Muskego,  and  Pewaukee.  Fox  Lake  is 
simply  a  widening  of  the  river-bed. 

From  the  vicinity  of  Elgin  to  Yorkville  the  bed  of  the  river 
is  alternately  rock  and  mud.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
present  course  of  the  river  lies  almost  at  right  angles  to  a  series 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY    OF   ILLINOIS  xlix 

of  preglacial  valleys  which  were  cut  by  streams  then  emptying 
into  Lake  Michigan.  The  present  river  consequently  cuts  alter- 
nately through  the  divides  and  valleys  of  these  old  rivers. 
Probably  much  of  the  underground  drainage  now  follows  these 
old  channels  to  the  lake. 

In  its  passage  through  Kane  and  Kendall  counties,  the  fall 
of  the  river  is  about  3  feet  per  mile,  but  in  La  Salle  county  it 
increases  to  about  5  feet  per  mile,  making  a  descent  of  nearly 
125  feet  in  the  lower  25  miles  of  its  course.  Near  Elgin  it 
begins  a  rapid  descent  to  the  low  plain  that  lies  on  the  outer 
border  of  the  Marseilles  moraine  and  follows  this  to  its  mouth. 
The  stream  here,  for  a  few  miles,  has  cut  to  a  depth  of  nearly 
100  feet,  but  in  its  passage  through  the  plain  its  bed  is  sunk  to 
a  depth  of  only  40  to  50  feet  except  for  a  few  miles  near  its 
mouth,  where  it  cuts  125  feet  to  enter  the  Illinois.  Its  channel, 
even  in  the  lower  75  miles,  has  a  breadth  of  only  about  one 
eighth  of  a  mile. 

VERMILION    RIVER 

Vermilion  River  of  the  Illinois  (not  of  the  Wabash) ,  about  90 
miles  in  length,  drains  an  area  covering  about  1,320  square  miles. 
This  is  a  plain  of  till  about  20  miles  wide,  which  lies  immediately 
south  and  west  of  the  Marseilles  moraine  in  Ford,  Livingston, 
and  La  Salle  counties.  The  river  rises  by  several  branches  in 
the  Bloomington  morainic  system  in  southeastern  Livingston 
and  Ford  counties,  the  main  stream  following  the  western  or 
outer  border  of  the  inner  range  of  the  system  from  its  source  to 
its  mouth,  and  thus  flowing  in  a  northwestward  direction  and 
emptying  into  the  Illinois  near  La  Salle.  The  plain  descends 
with  the  river,  so  that  for  50  miles  scarcely  any  valley  is  formed 
though  there  is  a  descent  of  nearly  100  feet.  In  the  last  40 
miles,  from  Pontiac  to  the  banks  of  the  Illinois,  it  has  scarcely 
20  feet  of  slope,  and  was  apparently  occupied  by  a  shallow  lake 
until  a  stream  had  been  given  time  to  open  a  channel  from  the 
Illinois  back  several  miles  into  the  plain.  There  are  sandy 
deposits  along  the  southern  border  of  the  plain  which  tend  to 
confirm  this  view.  In  the  lower  25  miles  the  stream  corrades 
rapidly,  making  a  descent  of  about  150  feet  and  cutting  its 
valley  mainly  in  rock.  The  channel  is  very  narrow,  steep,  and 
rocky,  especially  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  where  the  walls 
rise  abruptly  150  feet  from  the  water's  edge. 

A  few  miles  from  the  mouth,  at  a  bend  in  the  river,  a  deep 


1  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

canon  extends  off  to  the  east  through  Deer  Park  Glen.  It  is 
about  one  fourth  of  a  mile  long,  with  perpendicular  walls,  and 
is  in  the  form  of  an  elongated  S.  It  terminates  abruptly  in  a 
cirque,  open  at  the  top  and  about  150  feet  in  diameter  at  the 
bottom,  with  a  fine  spring  of  soft  water  bubbling  up  at  its  base. 
In  the  wet  season  there  is  a  waterfall  of  25  feet  which  enters  it 
through  a  narrow  chasm  at  the  head.  The  walls  of  the  cirque 
are  about  175  feet  high. 

The  stream  is  not  of  much  value  as  a  water-power  on 
account  of  the  unsteadiness  of  its  flow.  It  has  no  marshy 
gathering  ground,  and  the  formations  in  its  basin  are  mainly 
compact  till  which  yields  but  little  water  in  seasons  of  drought. 

MACKINAW   RIVER 

Mackinaw  River  rises  in  eastern  McLean  county.  It  flows 
westward  through  the  northern  part  of  this  county  and  across 
the  southern  end  of  Woodford,  then  turning  southwest  into 
Tazewell  county.  From  the  center  of  this  county  it  bends 
again  to  the  west,  following  this  direction  for  about  15  miles, 
when  it  turns  north  and  east,  emptying  into  the  Illinois  a  little 
below  Pekin.  It  is  about  110  miles  long,  and  drains  an  area 
of  about  1,200  square  miles  (Leverett). 

The  upper  part  of  the  river  lies  inside  the  main  ridges  of  the 
Bloomington  morainic  system,  and  drains  a  plain  which  lies  300 
to  350  feet  above  the  Illinois.  This  section  of  the  Mackinaw  is 
about  40  miles  in  length,  most  of  its  course  being  along  the 
southern  border  of  the  basin.  In  the  first  mile  it  descends  40 
feet,  but  below  this  its  fall  averages  about  3  feet  to  the  mile. 

In  its  middle  course  the  stream  crosses  the  Bloomington  and 
Shelbyville  morainic  systems  and  the  narrow  plain  separating 
them.  The  width  of  the  valley  increases  from  about  one  fourth 
of  a  mile  in  the  inner  part  of  the  Bloomington  belt  to  about  one 
half  of  a  mile  at  the  outer  part,  and  to  nearly  a  mile  in  its  passage 
across  the  Shelbyville  moraine.  Its  fall  is  still  rapid,  about  3  feet 
per  mile.  There  are  few  tributaries,  only  a  small  area  being 
drained. 

In  its  lower  course  the  Mackinaw  River  winds  about  in  a 
shallow  channel,  across  the  Illinois  valley  for  a  distance  of 
nearly  20  miles,  making  a  descent  of  75  feet. 

This  stream  is  one  of  the  most  variable  in  the  state  in  the 
quantity  of  water  it  carries,  since  it  is  subject  to  great  floods 
in  wet  seasons  and  becomes  nearly  dry  in  seasons  of  drought. 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  H 

This  variableness  is  due  to  several  causes.  The  principal  ones 
are  its  rapid  fall,  its  compact  drift-beds,  and  the  absence  of 
headwater  marshes. 

SPOON  RIVER 

Spoon  River  rises  in  southern  Bureau  county.  It  flows 
southwest  for  almost  100  miles,  nearly  paralleling  the  Illinois 
River.  It  then  turns  abruptly  southeastward  and  in  25  miles 
joins  the  Illinois  opposite  Havana,  about  40  miles  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Mackinaw.  It  drains  about  1,820  square  miles. 
All  of  this  area  except  a  little  in  the  headwater  portion,  lies 
outside  the  limits  of  the  Wisconsin  drift,  occupying  a  region 
covered  by  the  Illinoisan  drift  upon  which  there  is  a  capping  of 
loess.  The  headwaters  lie  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Bloom- 
ington  and  Shelby  ville  morainic  systems.  The  .course  of  the 
main  stream,  and  also  of  several  of  its  tributaries,  appears  to 
have  been  determined  largely  by  preglacial  drainage  lines,  but 
they  are  not  entirely  coincident  with  these  lines. 

Its  valley  is  cut  mainly  in  drift,  but  exposes  rock  at  many 
points  along  the  base  of  the  bluffs.  The  valley  is  very  narrow 
except  for  a  few  miles  before  it  reaches  the  Illinois  River  bluffs, 
where  it  widens  out  to  2  to  3  miles.  In  the  first  mile  of  its 
course  it  makes  a  descent  of  70  feet.  The  fall  gradually  decreases 
until,  in  the  last  80  miles,  it  descends  only  2  or  3  feet  per  mile. 

The  river  receives  several  tributaries  from  both  the  east 
and  the  west,  each  of  which  has  a  length  of  15  to  20  miles  or  more. 
These  tributaries  are  widely  branching,  and  the  entire  watershed 
displays  a  perfection  of  drainage  such  as  does  not  occur  within 
the  limits  of  the  Wisconsin  drift.  Originally  the  entire  basin 
was  about  half  timber  and  half  prairie.  The  prairies  are  all 
small,  covering  only  a  few  square  miles  each,  and  separated  by 
the  strips  of  timber  which  line  the  many  streams. 

Spoon  River  is  subject  to  great  variations  in  its  water  stages 
on  account  of  its  rapid  run-off,  due  to  the  rapid  descent  of  the 
river-bed  and  the  generally  well-drained  surface  of  the  basin. 
In  seasons  of  drought,  springs  along  the  valley  afford  a  consider- 
able supply  of  water,  but  the  low-water  discharge  is  less  than 
200  cubic  feet  per  second  (Leverett) .  The  current  of  the  Spoon 
River  is  so  much  stronger  than  that  of  the  Illinois  at  the  point 
where  it  empties  into  it,  that  a  delta  has  been  formed  at  its 
mouth. 


In  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

SANGAMON    RIVER 

The  Sangamon  River  has  the  largest  watershed  of  any  of  the 
tributaries  of  the  Illinois.  Its  drainage  basin,  covering  an  area 
of  5,390  square  miles  (Leverett),  includes  extensive  plains 
which  are  now  inadequately  drained,  but  which  may  by  extensive 
tiling  be  drained  into  the  river. 

The  Sangamon  rises  in  eastern  McLean  county,  flowing 
southeast  for  about  10  miles  into  Champaign  county,  and  thence 
south  and  west  until,  in  Sangamon  county,  it  takes  a  northwest- 
ward course.  In  northern  Menard  county  it  unites  with  Salt 
creek  and,  flowing  westward,  soon  empties  into  the  Illinois. 
The  length  of  the  river  is  about  200  miles.  Its  source  is  in  the 
Bloomington  morainic  system  at  an  altitude  of  about  850  feet. 
The  mouth  has  an  altitude  of  429  feet,  making  a  total  descent 
of  about  420  feet.  In  the  first  10  miles  it  makes  a  descent  of 
120  feet,  thus  leaving  about  300  feet  of  fall  for  the  remaining 
170  miles  of  its  course.  The  fall  is  far  from  regular,  there  being 
sections,  often  several  miles  in  length,  in  which  it  is  slight, 
between  which  are  sections  with  more  rapid  fall. 

The  river  flows  for  its  first  90  miles  within  the  limits  of  the 
Wisconsin  drift,  but  leaves  this  a  few  miles  west  of  Decatur. 
In  these  90  miles  it  receives  no  tributaries  of  importance,  its 
immediate  watershed  being  only  15  to  20  miles  wide. 

That  part  of  the  river  valley  lying  outside  of  the  Wisconsin 
drift,  although  generally  shallow,  is  much  wider  than  the  portion 
within  the  limits  of  that  drift  sheet,  and  bears  evidence  of  having 
been  opened  prior  to  the  Wisconsin  stage  of  glaciation.  The 
river  and  its  branches  are  bordered  throughout  most  of  their 
length  by  strips  of  timber  about  half  a  mile  wide  on  either  side. 

The  river  is  subject  to  great  variations  in  volume,  there 
being  in  the  annual  flood-stages  a  rise  sufficient  to  overflow 
banks  8  to  12  feet  in  height.  At  such  times,  being  a  swift 
stream,  it  probably  discharges  not  less  than  15,000  cubic  feet 
per  second,  and  in  extreme  floods  the  discharge  probably  exceeds 
20,000  cubic  feet  per  second.  Formerly  the  flow  of  the  river 
was  more  or  less  regular.  This  was  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
portion  of  the  basin  lying  within  the  Shelbyville  moraine  was 
filled  with  swamps  which  absorbed  the  water  as  it  fell  and  then 
gave  it  forth  very  gradually.  Now,  however,  a  very  complete 
system  of  tile  drainage  carries  off  this  water  very  quickly,  and  so 
leaves  the  river  subject  to  low  stages  for  a  large  part  of  the  year. 

The  principal  branch  of  the  Sangamon  is  Salt  creek. 


THE  TOPOGRAPHY   AND  HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  liii 

SALT   CREEK 

Salt  creek  is  formed  by  the  union  of  North  and  South  Salt 
creeks.  North  Salt  creek  has  its  source  between  two  large 
ridges  of  the  Bloomington  morainic  system  in  southeastern 
McLean  county  near  the  source  of  the  Sangamon.  It  passes 
southward  through  the  outer  ridge  and  across  the  undulating 
plain  south  of  it,  to  its  junction  with  the  south  fork.  South 
Salt  creek  heads  on  the  outer  border  of  the  Bloomington  moraine, 
and  flows  southwestward  across  a  gently  undulating  plain  to  a 
point  5  miles  east  of  Clinton,  where  the  two  streams  unite  to 
form  Salt  creek.  Above  their  junction  each  stream  has  a 
length  of  25  to  30  miles.  The  south  branch  in  its  first  2  miles 
has  a  fall  of  50  feet,  and  below  this  a  fall  averaging  10  feet  to 
every  three  or  four  miles.  The  north  branch  falls  80  feet  in  its 
first  4  miles,  with  a  fall  below  this  averaging  10  feet  to  every  two 
miles.  From  their  junction  the  united  streams  pass  westward 
through  the  Shelby ville  moraine,  entering  the  outer  border 
plain  at  Kenney,  eight  miles  southwest  of  Clinton.  The  general 
course  of  the  creek  continues  westward  to  its  junction  with  the 
Sangamon  50  miles  below.  It  is  92  miles  long,  draining  an 
area  of  1,940  square  miles. 

It  receives  Lake  Fork  creek  from  the  south  about  5  miles 
above  Lincoln,  Kickapoo  creek  from  the  north  about  4  miles 
below  Lincoln,  and  Sugar  creek,  also  from  the  north,  about  12 
miles  farther  down. 

The  valley  of  Salt  creek  is  much  broader  below  the  mouth 
of  Lake  Fork  than  above  and  it  seems  probable  that  a  larger 
stream  occupied  Lake  Fork  valley  prior  to  the  Wisconsin  in- 
vasion than  that  which  occupied  Salt  creek  valley.  The  latter 
appears  to  be  almost  wholly  a  post- Wisconsin  stream  as  far 
down  as  its  junction  with  Lake  Fork. 

Below  the  junction  the  stream  averages  a  fall  of  10  feet  to 
every  three  or  four  miles,  but  in  the  lower  two  miles  the  bed  has 
a  fall  of  20  feet.  The  bed  and  banks  of  Salt  creek,  like  those  of 
the  Sangamon,  are  without  rock. 

CROOKED    CREEK 

Crooked  creek  is  the  last  western  tributary  of  the  Illinois. 
It  rises  in  Hancock  county  and  flows  in  an  irregular  course, 
southeast,  into  the  Illinois  River  at  a  point  14  miles  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Sangamon.  The  stream  is  about  60  miles  long 


liv  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

and  drains  an  area  of  1 ,350  square  miles  (Leverett) .  Its  water- 
shed lies  immediately  southwest  of  that  of  Spoon  River.  It 
extends  on  the  northwest  nearly  to  the  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi, 
there  being  one  tributary  in  northern  Hancock  county,  from 
which  the  Mississippi  bluff  is  distant  less  than  five  miles.  No 
important  tributaries  enter  from  the  west,  but  several  creeks 
lead  into  it  from  the  east  which  have  lengths  of  15  to  20  miles 
or  more.  These  eastern  tributaries  present  a  remarkable  paral- 
lelism, and  take  a  nearly  uniform  direction  about  S.  65°  W. 
One  of  them,  known  as  East  Crooked  creek,  occupies  a  valley 
which  continues  beyond  this  watershed  in  a  direct  course  to  the 
Mississippi  and  is  thought  to  have  been  formed  by  a  subglacial 
stream.  Shallow  channels  may  also  have  been  opened  by  the 
same  agency  along  the  other  eastern  tributaries  and  have  occa- 
sioned their  remarkably  direct  and  parallel  courses  (Leverett). 

The  whole  of  the  drainage  basin  lies  in  the  Illinoisan  drift 
and  is  very  similar  in  character  to  the  basin  of  the  Spoon  River. 
For  a  few  miles  near  its  mouth  the  course  of  Crooked  creek  has 
been  determined  by  a  preglacial  drainage  line,  but  elsewhere  the 
drainage  appears  to  be  nearly  independent  of  preglacial  lines. 
A  portion  of  the  divide  between  the  Spoon  River  watershed 
and  the  Crooked  creek  watershed  follows  a  low  till  ridge. 

In  the  first  14  miles  of  its  course  Crooked  creek  falls  100 
feet,  but  the  fall  gradually  decreases  until  in  the  last  20  miles 
it  is  only  10  feet.  The  bluffs  of  the  river,  especially  in  the  lower 
part,  are  high  and  abrupt,  rising  to  a  height  of  100  feet  from  the 
water's  edge  for  a  large  part  of  the  distance.  In  only  a  few 
places  are  bottom-lands  found.  They  are  short  and  never 
more  than  one  half  of  a  mile  in  width.  Limestone  outcrops 
are  found  all  along  the  banks  of  the  river. 

APPLE   CREEK 

Apple  creek  has  a  drainage  area  of  about  435  square  miles, 
which  includes  southeastern  Morgan  county,  northern  Greene 
county,  and  northwestern  Macoupin  county.  It  rises  in  Morgan 
county  and  flows  southwestward  to  its  mouth.  Its  basin  has  a 
length  of  about  40  miles,  and  the  greatest  width  is  about  15 
miles.  The  river  is  about  53  miles  long. 

The  entire  basin  lies  within  the  Illinoisan  drift.  The  lower 
course  of  the  river  seems  to  be  along  the  line  of  a  preglacial  valley, 
but  the  headwater  portion  and  also  a  majority  of  the  tributaries 
show  little  dependence  upon  preglacial  lines.  The  drift  is  com- 


THE  TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  lv 

paratively  thin  over  much  of  the  basin,  and  the  streams  have 
cut  down  into  the  underlying  rocks  at  many  points.  The 
country  near  the  river  is  hilly  and  much  broken,  the  valleys  of 
the  streams  having  been  excavated  to  a  depth  of  100  to  200  feet 
below  the  general  level  of  the  uplands. 

Throughout  its  course  Apple  creek  is  a  swiftly  flowing  stream. 
In  the  first  11  miles  of  its  course  it  drops  100  feet.  For  the  rest 
of  the  distance  the  fall  averages  about  5  feet  to  the  mile. 

MACOUPIN   CREEK 

Macoupin  creek  rises  in  northern  Montgomery  county  and 
flows  southwest  into  the  Illinois.  It  drains  an  area  of  nearly 
1,000  square  miles  (Leverett),  consisting  of  the  greater  portion 
of  Macoupin  county  and  parts  of  Montgomery,  Greene,  and 
Jersey  counties.  Its  watershed  is  broad  in  the  middle  and  tapers 
toward  either  end,  giving  it  a  broadly  ovate  outline.  The  whole 
of  the  basin  lies  within  the  Illinoisan  drift  area.  With  the 
exception  of  the  headwater  portion,  above  Carlinville,  the  main 
stream  apparently  has  its  course  determined  by  a  preglacial 
line,  there  being  a  broad  depression,  deeply  filled  with  drift, 
through  which  the  creek  takes  its  course.  The  tributary  streams 
appear  to  be  largely  independent  of  preglacial  lines. 

The  basin  is  composed  of  gently  rolling  or  nearly  level 
prairies,  which  occupy  the  highlands  between  the  streams  and 
cover  fully  one  third  of  the  area,  and  of  heavy  belts  of  timber 
which  skirt  the  streams.  The  soil  is  of  a  black,  peaty  character 
on  the  level  prairies,  becomes  chocolate-brown  on  the  more  roll- 
ing surfaces,  and  degenerates  into  a  light  ash-gray  near  the 
streams. 

The  creek  is  about  90  miles  long,  and  drains  989  square 
miles.  Its  fall  is  varied,  some  parts,  as  the  lower  17  miles,  having 
a  fall  of  only  one  and  one  half  feet  to  the  mile,  and  other  parts 
much  more,  as  the  four  and  one  half  miles  just  above  this,  the 
fall  in  this  distance  being  30  feet.  Above  this  point  the  average 
fall  is  about  2  feet  to  the  mile.  The  banks  are  high,  in  some 
places  rising  to  100  feet.  In  a  few  places  the  banks  recede  from 
the  water's  edge,  leaving  bottom-lands  one  half  to  one  and  one 
half  miles  in  width. 

KASKASKIA  RIVER  SYSTEM. 

The  Kaskaskia  River  system  drains  a  large  part  of  southern 
Illinois,  its  drainage  basin  covering  an  area  of  5,830  square 


Ivi  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

miles.  It  is  about  212  miles  long,  the  narrow  upper  end  reaching 
within  40  miles  of  the  state  of  Indiana.  The  upper  third  of  the 
basin  lies  in  Wisconsin  drift,  and  the  other  two  thirds  in  the 
Illinoisan.  The  basin  is  composed  of  level  or  undulating 
country  having  black  soil  in  the  northern  part  and  chocolate  to 
light  gray  soil  in  the  southern,  underlaid  by  yellow  to  white  clay. 
Heavy  timber  lands  skirt  the  rivers,  between  which  lie  the 
prairies.  In  the  southern  parts  great  drift  mounds,  usually 
topped  with  timber,  rise  often  from  the  midst  of  the  prairies. 

KASKASKIA   RIVER 

Kaskaskia  River  rises  in  Champaign  county  in  the  Cham- 
paign morainic  system  and  flows  southwest,  emptying  into  the 
Mississippi  in  Randolph  county,  near  Chester,  at  an  altitude  of 
342  feet.  Its  descent  is  generally  gradual,  the  most  rapid  section 
of  its  course  being  its  passage  through  Moultrie  county,  where  it 
makes  a  descent  of  55  feet  in  about  18  miles,  or  3  feet  to  the 
mile.  In  the  headwater  portion  there  is  a  fall  of  only  110  feet 
in  the  first  50  miles.  In  places  there  are  pools  several  miles  in 
length,  the  most  conspicuous  of  these  being  in  St.  Clair  county, 
where  in  a  distance  of  20  miles  the  fall  is  scarcely  10  feet. 

The  upper  80  miles  lies  in  the  Wisconsin  drift,  the  stream 
emerging  from  the  Shelby ville  moraine  near  Shelby ville.  In  its 
headwater  portion  the  channel  of  the  stream  is  narrow  and  shal- 
low to  the  inner  border  of  the  Shelby  ville  moraine.  The  banks 
are  muddy  as  far  as  Sullivan,  but  sandy  below  this.  The  drainage 
of  this  section  of  the  basin  was  originally  very  imperfect,  and  its 
undeveloped  streams  were  often  little  more  than  series  of  swales 
and  sloughs.  Ditches  and  tile  drains  have  greatly  changed  these 
conditions,  however,  and  the  run-off  is  now  fairly  prompt  and 
complete.  In  crossing  the  moraine  the  Kaskaskia  valley  has  an 
average  depth  of  nearly  75  feet,  and  four  miles  northeast  of 
Shelbyville  the  bluffs  attain  a  height  of  130  feet,  although  the 
channel  is  so  narrow  that  it  is  not  much  more  than  a  trench. 
The  valley  continues  narrow  for  a  few  miles  after  entering  the 
Illinoisan  drift,  but  widens  below  the  mouth  of  Robinson  creek. 
This  stream  seems  to  follow  the  lower  course  of  a  drainage  line 
(probably  interglacial) ,  whose  former  headwater  portion  has  been 
concealed  by  the  Shelbyville  drift  sheet.  Its  valley  has  a 
breadth  of  nearly  half  a  mile,  and  the  Kaskaskia  retains  this 
breadth  below  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  increasing  to  three  fourths 
of  a  mile  in  southern  Shelby  county.  These  bottoms  are  gen- 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  vii 

erally  14  to  16  feet  above  the  ordinary  stage  of  water,  with 
sometimes  a  second  bottom  a  few  feet  higher.  During  the  wet 
seasons  the  river  often  covers  the  first  bottom  to  a  depth  of 
several  feet.  The  hills  on  each  side  of  the  river  are  from  60  to 
70  feet  in  height.  On  entering  Fayette  county,  the  river  opens 
into  a  broad  preglacial  valley  whose  course  farther  north  is  buried 
under  drift.  The  valley  has  a  width  of  about  3  miles  near 
Vandalia,  but  reaches  a  greater  width  farther  south.  It  is  so 
masked  by  drift  that  it  presents  the  appearance  of  a  broad 
shallow  basin  rather  than  a  river  valley.  It  continues  nearly  to 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  where  the  width  contracts  abruptly  to 
about  a  mile  upon  entering  the  subcarboniferous  limestone 
which  there  borders  the  Mississippi  Valley.  The  bottom-lands 
are  subject  to  annual  overflow,  and  are  still  covered  with  a 
heavy  growth  of  timber. 

The  stream  is  subject  to  great  variations  in  volume  as  the 
compact  clay  subsoil  promotes  a  rapid  run-off  and  furnishes 
but  little  water  in  seasons  of  drought;  consequently,  in  summer 
and  fall,  the  river  dwindles  to  a  very  small  size.  At  times  it 
may  be  crossed  dry-shod  at  Vandalia,  where  it  is  60  to  70  feet 
wide.  A  rise  of  20  feet  in  its  lower  course  is  not  rare  in  flood 
time,  and  its  flood-plain  has  been  built  nearly  to  that  height 
above  the  stream-bed. 

The  two  principal  tributaries  of  the  Kaskaskia  are  from  the 
west — Shoal  creek  and  Silver  creek. 

SHOAL    CREEK 

Shoal  creek  drains  an  area  of  947  square  miles,  or  one 
sixth  of  the  entire  basin  of  the  Kaskaskia  River  (Leverett).  This 
area  includes  most  of  Montgomery  and  Bond  counties  and  west- 
ern Clinton  county.  Shoal  creek  is  made  up  of  three  branches 
known  as  West,  Middle,  and  East  Shoal  creeks.  West  and 
Middle  creeks  unite  to  form  the  West  fork,  by  the  union  of 
which  with  East  creek,  twenty  miles  below,  the  main  stream  is 
formed.  From  the  rise  of  its  branches  to  its  mouth  in  the  Kas- 
kaskia this  stream  has  a  total  length  of  79  miles.  The  watershed 
has  a  distinct  southward  slope,  the  altitude  at  the  headwaters 
being  700  to  750  feet,  and  at  the  mouth  only  400  feet. 

The  three  branches  have  each  formed  a  channel  50  to  75  feet 
or  more  in  depth  and  nearly  one  fourth  of  a  mile  in  average 
width  in  their  passage  through  southern  Montgomerjr  county, 
and  a  similar  depth  is  maintained  as  far  down  as  the  junction  of 


Iviii  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

the  East  and  West  forks  near  Greenville.  Below  this  point  the 
valley  is  more  shallow,  and  the  stream  soon  enters  the  Kaskaskia 
basin,  where  its  bed  is  but  little  lower  than  the  basin  plain. 

East  Shoal  creek  is  bordered  closely  on  the  east  throughout 
its  entire  length  by  a  series  of  drift  knolls  and  ridges  (broken 
Illinoisan  moraines) .  Shoal  creek  passes  through  a  break  in  this 
system  of  ridges  just  below  the  junction  of  the  East  and  West 
forks,  beyond  which  its  course  is  largely  independent  of  drift 
ridges.  Middle  Shoal  creek  winds  about  among  prominent  drift 
knolls  near  Hillsboro,  and  West  Shoal  creek  is  deflected  east- 
ward by  a  ridge  of  drift  at  its  junction  with  Middle  Shoal  creek. 
The  courses  of  these  streams  seem  to  be  mainly  independent  of 
preglacial  lines  but  largely  determined  by  Illinoisan  moraines. 
East  Shoal  creek  touches  the  line  of  a  deep  preglacial  valley 
near  Greenville,  but  above  that  point  it  has  opened  a  new  course, 
in  places  trenching  into  the  rock.  Even  the  lower  course  seems 
to  be  largely  independent  of  any  preglacial  line  of  drainage. 

SILVER   CREEK 

Silver  creek  rises  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  Macoupin 
county,  flowing  almost  due  south  through  eastern  Madison  and 
St.  Clair  counties  and  emptying  into  the  Kaskaskia  opposite 
New  Athens.  It  has  a  length  of  about  60  miles,  draining  an 
area  of  500  square  miles.  The  basin  averages  only  about  10 
miles  in  width. 

At  its  source  the  river  has  an  altitude  of  about  650  feet.  In 
its  first  4  miles  it  falls  50  feet  and  in  the  next  16  miles  a  descent 
of  100  feet  is  made.  In  the  lower  part  the  fall  is  much  less, 
being  only  70  feet  in  the  remaining  43  miles. 

In  its  southern  half  the  watershed  is  diversified  by  drift 
ridges  and  knolls  which  rise  in  some  cases  to  a  height  of  75  feet 
or  more  above  the  border  districts.  These  for  a  few  miles  in 
southeastern  Madison  county  constitute  the  east  border  of  the 
watershed,  but  just  south  of  the  line  of  Madison  and  St.  Clair 
counties  the  stream  passes  through  the  main  belt  of  ridges,  and  it 
has  but  few  prominent  ridges  and  knolls  on  its  east  below  that 
point.  At  its  mouth  the  stream  has  an  elvation  of  only  370 
feet,  and  the  surrounding  country,  aside  from  the  knolls,  stands 
scarcely  400  feet  above  tide.  Silver  creek  seems  to  be  largely 
dependent  in  the  direction  of  its  course  on  glacial  influences.  It 
cuts  into  the  rock  at  numerous  points  along  its  course,  and  its 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  Hx 

immediate  bluffs  stand  at  the  general  level  of  the  bordering 
uplands. 

BIG  MUDDY  RIVER  SYSTEM 

Big  Muddy  River  system  drains  an  area  of  2,390  square 
miles  lying  in  an  elliptical  shape,  with  a  major  axis  about  70 
miles  long  running  almost  north  and  south,  and  a  minor  axis 
about  50  miles  long.  This  drainage  basin  includes  the  greater 
part  of  Williamson,  Franklin,  Jefferson,  Perry,  and  Jackson 
counties,  the  southeastern  portion  of  Washington  county,  and 
the  southern  part  of  Marion  county,  which  forms  the  extreme 
southwestern  part  of  the  district  covered  by  the  Illinoisan  drift 
sheet,  lying  in  the  low  section  just  north  of  the  Ozark  ridge. 
The  lower  20  miles  of  the  river  flows  through  the  Mississippi 
bottoms.  With  the  exception  of  the  ridge  on  the  southern  bor- 
der, which  stands  600  to  800  feet  above  tide,  the  basin  has  few 
points  rising  above  550  feet,  the  average  level  being  400  to  500 
feet.  The  immediate  borders  of  the  main  valley  fall  below  400 
feet  and  the  mouth  of  the  stream  at  low  water  in  the  Mississippi 
is  but  320  feet.  The  country  is  made  up  of  gray  prairies  inter- 
sected by  rivers  whose  bottom-lands  are  below  the  general  level. 
These  rivers  are  skirted  by  timber  belts,  so  that  a  large  portion 
of  the  basin  is  wooded.  The  bottom-lands  also  were  formerly 
timbered,  but  parts  have  been  cleared  and  put  under  cultiva- 
tion. Over  the  greater  portion  of  the  area  the  drift  is  very  thin, 
and  rock  divides  separating  the  preglacial  drainage  areas  are 
plainly  discernible.  The  basin  of  the  Big  Muddy  has  been 
subject  to  long  erosion,  and  consequently  the  soils  are  largely 
made  of  clays  containing  little  humus  and  giving  acid  reactions. 

Big  Muddy  River  has  the  characteristics  of  an  old  stream, 
in  a  land  long  exposed  to  erosion.  It  has  cut  its  bed  down  to 
drainage  level,  and  it  runs  its  crooked  course  over  a  broad  flood- 
plain.  It  rises  in  northern  Jefferson  county,  and  flows  south 
and  then  west  and  south,  emptying  into  the  Mississippi  about  5 
miles  below  Grand  Tower,  Jackson  county.  It  is  about  94 
miles  long.  Beaucoup  creek  enters  from  the  north  25  to  30 
miles  from  the  mouth,  and  Little  Muddy  River  enters  from  the 
same  side  about  10  miles  farther  up.  These  two  streams  together 
drain  about  the  same  area  as  the  main  stream  above  the  junction, 
and  Beaucoup  creek  drains  about  one  half  more  area  than  the 
Little  Muddy.  An  eastern  tributary,  Crab  Orchard  creek,  drains 
about  250  square  miles  of  the  district  bordering  the  Ozark  ridge. 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 


The  river  is  very  sluggish,  and  its  volume  is  extremely 
variable.  In  the  first  eleven  miles  it  makes  a  descent  of  about 
100  feet,  but  below  this  the  fall  is  not  more  than  a  foot  to  the 
mile.  In  times  of  spring  flood  its  broad  stream  is  overloaded  with 
silt  and  its  bottom  a  creeping  mass,  shifting  its  contour  with 
every  change  in  rate  of  flow;  and  during  the  summer  drouths 
it  shrinks  to  little  more  than  a  chain  of  nearly  stagnant  pools. 

Throughout  the  greater  portion  of  its  course  Big  Muddy 
River  occupies  a  preglacial  line  of  drainage  and  meanders  about 
in  broad  bottoms  which  have  been  filled  with  drift  and  alluvium 
to  an  elevation  of  from  500  to  600  feet  or  more  above  the  rock 
bottom.  Just  below  Murphy sboro  the  valley  becomes  con- 
stricted to  a  width  of  about  a  mile  in  its  passage  through  the 
elevated  ridge  which  there  borders  the  Mississippi.  In  its 
course  through  the  Mississippi  bottoms  its  eastern  shore  hugs 
the  bluff,  which  rises  200  to  300  feet  above  the  river.  On  its 
west  are  the  low,  flat  flood-plains  of  the  Mississippi.  Above 
Mwphysboro  the  banks  are  neither  abrupt  nor  high,  and  they 
and  the  bed  of  the  stream  are  chiefly  clay. 

At  Murphy  sboro,  about  6  miles  below  the  junction  of 
Beaucoup  creek,  where  the  stream  is  about  160  feet  wide,  the 
water  has  sometimes  risen  30  feet,  flooding  the  surrounding 
flats.  Backwater  from  the  Mississippi  is  felt  at  that  point.  The 
river  is  very  properly  named,  as  it  carries  great  quantities  of 
alluvium  which  the  current  is  constantly  shifting  from  one  place 
to  another. 

THE  WABASH  SYSTEM 

The  Wabash  basin,  which  covers  the  greater  part  of  Indiana, 
includes  also  about  8,770  square  miles  of  eastern  Illinois,  drained 
by  the  Big  Vermilion,  the  Embarras,  and  the  Little  Wabash 
rivers,  and  by  several  smaller  streams  in  the  southeastern  part 
of  the  state.  The  greater  part  of  its  surface  lies  at  an  elevation 
varying  between  300  and  700  feet,  with  the  highlands  around 
its  headwaters  and  the  region  of  the  Shelbyville  moraine  rising 
approximately  100  feet  higher.  This  moraine  marks  the  southern 
limit  of  the  Wisconsin  glaciation,  beyond  which  lies  the  lower 
Illinoisan.  It  divides  the  Wabash  valley  in  Illinois  into  two 
distinctly  different  regions,  the  northern  of  which  has  the 
characteristics  of  a  comparatively  recent  glaciation,  and  the 
southern  those  of  a  glaciated  area  long  exposed  to  erosion.  In 
the  northern  part  the  streams  are  few,  and  their  branches  are 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  Ixi 

few  and  comparatively  short.  The  uplands  were  poorly  drained 
originally,  and  contained  many  marshes,  sometimes  very  large, 
and  many  shallow  lakes.  The  soil  here  is  deep,  black,  rich  in 
organic  matter,  slightly  alkaline  in  reaction,  porous,  and  rather 
coarsely  granulated.  In  the  southern  section  the  soil  has  been 
washed  and  eroded  for  thousands  of  years,  leaving  it  as  an  ex- 
tremely fine-grained,  slightly  acid  residue,  from  which  most  of 
the  organic  matter  has  disappeared.  The  streams  of  this 
long-exposed  southern  area  have  developed  themselves  freely 
in  comparatively  deep  channels,  through  which  their  currents 
have  a  sluggish  flow,  and  have  lengthened  their  branches  back 
to  the  uplands,  which  are  thus  effectually  drained  by  natural 
processes.  The  large  streams,  especially  in  their  lower  courses, 
have  formed  extensive  bottom-lands  liable  to  overflow,  and, 
owing  to  the  thorough  natural  drainage  of  the  country,  the 
waters  recede  to  a  very  low  level  during  times  of  drought. 

Hydrographic  conditions  in  the  Wisconsin  glaciation  have 
been  greatly  changed  within  comparatively  recent  years  by  large 
drainage  operations,  carried  on  at  public  expense  under  the 
operation  of  state  law.  Swamps,  marshes,  and  lakes  have 
virtually  disappeared,  and  their  places  have  been  taken  by  rich 
and  highty  cultivated  farms.  Much  less  change  has  been  made 
in  the  lower  Wabash  Valley  as  a  consequence  of  human  occu- 
pancy, but  the  original  rather  general  covering  of  both  lowland 
and  upland  forest  has  been  mainly  removed,  with  the  effect  to 
expose  the  surface  to  more  rapid  erosion  than  heretofore,  and  to 
increase  the  extremes  of  flood  and  low  water. 

WABASH    RIVER 

Wabash  River  was  given,  by  the  earliest  explorers,  the 
name  of  Ouabouskigou,  said  to  mean  "white  water"  in  one  of 
the  Indian  tongues,  and  it  bears  this  Indian  name  on  the  maps 
of  both  Joliet  and  Marquette.  This  was  later  contracted  by  the 
French  to  Ouabache,  the  spelling  of  which  has  since  been  simply 
anglicized.  The  earlier  explorers  regarded  the  lower  Ohio  and 
the  Wabash  as  forming  one  stream,  to  which  they  gave  the  latter 
name,  while  the  upper  Ohio  bore  either  its  present  name  or 
that  of  "la  Belle  Riviere." 

The  Wabash  forms,  for  198  miles,  the  boundary  between 
Indiana  and  Illinois,  lying  in  this  part  of  its  course  in  a  preglacial 
valley,  the  former  bed  of  a  very  much  larger  stream.  This  val- 
ley, five  or  six  miles  across  in  its  upper  part,  is  filled  with  drift 


Ixii  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

which  buries  the  old  stream  bed  to  a  depth  of  60  or  70  feet,  and 
is  bounded  by  bluffs  rising  from  100  to  200  feet  above  the  river. 
The  Illinois  section  of  the  Wabash  has  a  comparatively  sluggish 
current,  its  fall  being  less  than  eight  inches  to  the  mile. 

Two,  and  in  some  places  three,  different  levels  are  distin- 
guishable in  the  Wabash  valley  to-day.  The  bottom-lands  of 
the  river  subject  to  overflow  at  ordinary  high  water  are  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  feet  above  the  stream,  and  at  about  the  same 
height  above  these  are  the  second  bottoms,  covered  with  water 
only  by  exceptional  floods;  and  in  some  places  a  terrace  level 
may  be  traced  half-way  up  the  bordering  bluff.  The  river 
flows  for  the  most  part  along  the  western  side  of  its  valley, 
occasionally,  indeed,  quite  close  to  the  bluffs,  leaving  the  bot- 
toms largely  on  the  Indiana  side  of  the  stream.  The  bed  of  the 
river  is  often  rocky  and  the  current  locally  swift,  and  rapids 
greatly  interfered  in  early  days  with  the  use  of  the  stream  for 
transportation  purposes.  The  waters  of  the  Wabash  are,  like 
those  of  the  Illinois  and  the  Kaskaskia,  commonly  brown  and 
opaque  with  suspended  silt,  never  clearing  even  at  the  lowest 
stages;  and  the  same  is  true  of  most  of  its  tributary  streams, 
especially  those  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation. 

VERMILION    RIVER 

Vermilion  River  drains  an  area  of  about  1,435  square  miles 
in  Ford,  Champaign,  and  Vermilion  counties  in  Illinois,  and  a 
small  section  of  Fountain  and  Warren  counties  in  Indiana.  It 
rises  only  a  few  miles  from  the  source  of  a  river  of  the  same  name 
which  flows  northwest  into  the  Illinois,  to  distinguish  it  from 
which  it  is  often  called  the  Wabash- Vermilion  or  the  Big  Ver- 
milion. Its  course  is  generally  south  and  east,  and  it  empties 
into  the  Wabash  10  miles  beyond  the  Indiana  line.  It  has  a 
length  of  about  81  miles,  and  a  fall  of  320  feet.  Its  source  is 
in  the  midst  of  the  Bloomington  morainic  system  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  800  feet.  It  flows  thence  southward  between  two  ridges, 
known  as  the  Roberts  and  Melvin  ridges,  and  passes  through  the 
latter  ridge,  falling  70  feet  in  this  distance  of  17  J^  miles.  At 
this  point  it  receives  a  tributary  of  about  the  same  length  from 
the  west,  which  is  known  as  the  West  branch  of  the  Middle 
Fork.  This  branch  also  rises  at  an  elevation  of  800  feet  and 
drains  a  sag  or  narrow  plain  between  the  Melvin  ridge  and  the 
outer  moraine  of  the  Bloomington  system.  From  this  union  the 
stream  takes  a  southeastward  course  across  the  northeast  corner 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OP   ILLINOIS  Ixiii 

of  Champaign  county  and  into  Vermilion  county  as  far  as 
Potomac,  where  it  turns  abruptly  southward  and  passes  through 
the  outer  ridge  of  the  Bloomington  moraine.  A  few  miles  farther 
south  it  receives  its  larger  western  tributary,  the  Salt  Fork,  and 
the  united  stream  then  flows  east  for  about  6  miles  to  Danville, 
takes  again  a  southeast  course,  and  follows  this  direction  to  its 
mouth. 

Salt  Fork  rises  in  western  Champaign  county  at  an  altitude 
of  740  feet  and  flows  south  and  then  east  for  a  distance  of  50 
miles.  It  drains  a  plain  in  eastern  Champaign  and  western 
Vermilion  counties,  lying  between  the  Bloomington  and  Cham- 
paign morainic  systems. 

North  Fork  rises  in  northern  Vermilion  county  at  an  ele- 
vation of  720  feet  and  flows  southward  for  a  distance  of  37 
miles,  emptying  into  the  Vermilion  at  Danville.  It  drains  only 
a  small  area  among  the  ridges  of  the  Bloomington  system. 

The  entire  drainage  system  of  the  Vermilion  is  independent 
of  preglacial  lines,  the  drift  over  this  region  being  so  deep  as  to 
cover  completely  the  old  rock  divides.  The  river  and  its 
branches  have  narrow  valleys,  and  in  the  upper  courses  the 
banks  are  only  from  10  to  50  feet  high,  and  generally  bordered 
by  scattered  patches  of  timber.  In  the  lower  parts  the  streams 
are  skirted  with  strips  of  woodland  from  one  to  four  miles  in 
width,  and  the  banks  are  steep  and  high.  Bed-rock  is  not  exposed 
in  the  upper  portions,  but  at  and  below  Danville  the  river  has 
cut  into  the  Pennsylvanian  to  a  considerable  depth. 

Generally  speaking,  the  headwaters  of  all  these  streams 
were  originally  prairie  swales,  lying  in  shallow  valleys  or  in 
broad  depressions  of  an  otherwise  plain  surface.  Here  they 
were  often  choked  with  weeds  in  summer,  and  were  very  muddy 
in  times  of  flood,  but  in  their  lower  courses  they  often  cut  deeply 
into  the  drift,  or  even  into  the  underlying  rock,  forming  deep 
and  narrow  valleys,  sometimes  with  decidedly  gorge-like  effect. 
In  comparison  with  most  Illinois  streams,  however,  the  waters 
of  the  Big  Vermilion  are  in  general  fairly  clear,  and  the  bot- 
toms relatively  clean,  forming  a  transition  from  the  typical 
prairie  streams  to  those  characteristic  of  the  adjacent  Alleghany 
plateau. 

LITTLE    VERMILION   RIVER 

The  Little  Vermilion  River  rises  in  the  southeastern  corner 
of  Champaign  county  and  flows  southeast,  east,  northeast,  and 


Ixiv  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

southwest,  a  distance  of  about  60  miles,  emptying  into  the 
Wabash  River  in  Vermilion  county,  Indiana.  Of  this  length 
45  miles  lie  in  Illinois.  It  drains  a  narrow  strip  covered  by  the 
Champaign  till-sheet  lying  between  two  moraines,  the  northern 
of  which  completely  separates  the  drainage  basin  of  the  Little 
Vermilion  from  that  of  the  Vermilion  proper.  Its  total  drainage 
area  is  213  square  miles,  179  of  which  are  in  Illinois.  It  rises 
at  an  altitude  of  710  feet,  and  falls  30  feet  in  its  first  4  miles. 
In  the  next  9  miles  a  descent  of  only  10  feet  is  made,  below 
which  a  fall  of  50  feet  occurs  in  4  miles.  The  descent  then 
becomes  more  gradual  and  the  stream  crosses  the  state-line  at 
an  elevation  of  about  500  feet.  In  its  upper  part  it  is  little 
more  than  a  prairie  drain,  but  it  becomes  of  more  importance 
farther  down,  where  the  banks  are  75  to  100  feet  high  and  lined 
with  strips  of  timber  1  to  3  miles  in  width. 

EMBARRAS    RIVER 

Embarras  River,  132  miles  long,  drains  an  area  of  about 
2,400  square  miles  in  eastern  Illinois.  Its  source  is  in  the 
Champaign  morainic  system,  immediately  south  of  the  city  of 
Champaign.  For  about  20  miles  it  flows  between  the  outer 
and  the  main  ridges  of  the  Champaign  system,  then  cuts  through 
the  outer  ridge  in  northern  Douglas  county.  Thence  it  bears 
southeast,  for  about  10  miles,  to  a  small  till  ridge  correlated 
with  the  Cerro  Gordo  moraine,  crossing  this  in  southeastern 
Douglas  county.  Its  course  is  then  slightly  west  of  south  for  25 
miles,  at  which  point  it  leaves  the  Shelbyville  or  earliest  Wis- 
consin sheet  of  drift,  continuing  southward  25  to  30  miles 
farther,  to  the  neighborhood  of  Newton,  where  it  changes  to 
the  southeastward  and  maintains  this  course  to  its  mouth,  a 
distance  of  50  miles. 

The  river  rises  at  an  altitude  of  750  feet,  while  its  mouth  lies 
only  395  feet  above  tide,  making  a  total  descent  of  355  feet,  or  an 
average  descent  of  two  and  a  third  feet  to  the  mile.  In  the  last 
53  miles,  however,  the  fall  is  scarcely  more  than  a  foot  to  the  mile. 

The  upper  part  of  the  river,  lying  within  the  Wisconsin  drift, 
drains  only  a  narrow  strip  and  has  but  few  tributaries.  This  sec- 
tion of  its  basin  is  mostly  prairie  with  woodlands  skirting  the 
larger  streams,  and  the  soil  is  a  deep,  black,  and  very  fertile  loam. 

Upon  emerging  from  the  Wisconsin  drift,  the  river  enters 
at  once  a  much  broader  valley  which  appears  to  have  been 
excavated  prior  to  the  Wisconsin  stage  of  glaciation,  for  the 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY   AND   HYDROGRAPHY   OF   ILLINOIS  Ixv 

valley  gravels  connected  with  the  Shelbyville  moraine  head 
down  the  river  bottom  in  a  way  to  indicate  the  existence  of  this 
valley  at  the  time  of  their  deposition.  The  valley  increases  in 
width  from  one  mile  in  Cumberland  county  to  2  miles  in  Jasper 
county,  and  3  to  5  miles  in  Crawford  and  Lawrence  counties. 
Below  Newton  its  course  is  determined  largely  by  a  preglacial 
line  of  drainage,  which  possibly  extends  up  the  valley  as  far  as 
the  vicinity  of  Greenup,  18  miles  above  Newton.  In  this  sec- 
tion of  the  basin  strips  of  timber-land  border  the  streams,  and 
the  bottoms  are  somewhat  swampy  and  subject  to  overflow, 
but  are  generally  sufficiently  dry  to  admit  of  some  cultivation 
when  cleared.  In  Lawrence  county,  between  the  Embarras 
and  the  Wabash  rivers,  there  is  an  extensive  marsh,  known  as 
Purgatory  swamp,  about  10  miles  long  and  from  2  to  4  miles  in 
width.  The  banks  of  the  river  are  50  feet  high  in  Cumberland 
and  Jasper  counties,  but  much  lower  near  its  mouth,  although 
the  uplands  lie  50  to  100  feet  above  the  watercourses. 

The  interesting  contrast  between  the  upper  and  the  lower 
courses  of  this  stream,  in  respect  to  the  number  of  its  tributaries, 
the  extent  of  its  flood-plain,  and  the  development  of  its  drainage 
system  generally,  is  clearly  traceable  to  differences  in  age 
between  the  two  glacial  areas  through  which  it  flows. 

LITTLE    WABASH    RIVER 

Little  Wabash  River,  with  a  length  of  160  miles,  drains 
about  3,190  square  miles  in  southeastern  Illinois.  It  lies  in  an 
oval  basin,  much  broader  in  the  middle  than  in  its  lower  and 
upper  parts.  It  extends,  on  the  west,  to  the  watershed  of  the 
Kaskaskia  and  on  the  east  to  the  Embarras  and  Bonpas  water- 
sheds. The  entire  basin  lies  in  the  Illinoisan  drift,  and  is 
made  up  of  rolling  prairies  lying  between  the  broad  belts  of 
woodland  which  skirt  the  streams.  The  difference  in  level 
between  the  creek  bottoms  and  the  adjacent  highlands  does 
not  usually  exceed  50  to  75  or  100  feet. 

The  river  rises  in  southwestern  Coles  county,  and  flows  south 
through  Shelby  and  Effingham  counties.  In  northern  Clay 
county  it  turns  southeast  for  about  50  miles,  and  then  flows 
alternately  southwest  and  southeast  until  it  empties  into  the 
Wabash  at  the  boundary  line  between  Gallatin  and  White 
counties,  eight  miles,  in  a  direct  line,  from  the  junction  of  the 
Wabash  with  the  Ohio  River.  The  length  of  the  river  is  about 
180  miles.  Its  source  is  in  the  Shelbyville  moraine  at  an  eleva- 


Ixvi  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

tion  of  740  feet,  but  it  descends  within  4  miles  to  700  feet,  to 
650  feet  in  the  next  2^  miles,  and  to  600  feet  12  miles  below. 
Another  descent  of  100  feet  is  made  in  the  following  31  miles, 
while  at  a  point  42  miles  below  this  the  400  feet  contour- line  is 
crossed.  The  mouth  of  the  stream,  104  miles  distant,  lies  323 
feet  above  tide.  Thus  the  total  descent  of  the  river  is  317 
feet,  giving  an  average  fall  of  about  1.7  feet  per  mile. 

In  the  first  40  to  50  miles  the  main  stream  is  largely  inde- 
pendent of  preglacial  lines,  and  there  is  consequently  little  val- 
ley. The  remainder  of  its  course,  however,  is  determined  by 
a  broad  preglacial  valley  except  for  a  short  distance  below 
Carmi,  where  it  cuts  across  a  projecting  spur  of  hills  leading  in 
from  the  west.  This  valley,  like  others  in  this  region,  has  been 
filled  in  its  lower  course  with  drift  and  alluvium  to  a  level  perhaps 
100  feet  above  the  rock  bottom  (Leverett).  It  is  from  an 
eighth  to  a  fourth  of  a  mile  wide  in  Effingham  county,  but 
below,  reaches  a  width  of  one  to  three  miles.  At  times  the 
river  is  bordered  locally  by  precipitous  bluffs  40  to  50  or  even 
100  feet  in  height,  while  at  other  points  there  is  a  gradually 
sloping  surface  from  the  bottoms  up  to  the  level  of  the  adjacent 
prairie.  The  river-bottoms  are  a  rich,  sandy  loam,  but  are 
valued  little  for  agriculture  on  account  of  the  overflow  to  which 
they  are  subject  during  the  annual  spring  freshets.  They  are, 
however,  valued  for  the  heavy  timber  which  covers  them. 

The  most  important  tributary  of  the  Little  Wabash  is 
Skillet  Fork  which  enters  from  the  west  near  Carmi.  The 
length  of  this  stream  is  about  78  miles,  not  including  the  wind- 
ings of  its  course,  and  it  has  a  watershed  of  nearly  1,080  square 
miles.  It  rises  in  northeast  Marion  county  and  flows  south 
and  then  southeast.  Its  source  is  at  an  elevation  of  600  feet,  but 
it  has  a  fall  of  100  feet  in  its  first  6  miles  and  makes  another 
descent  of  50  feet  in  the  next  12  miles.  During  the  rest  of  its 
course  it  falls  but  100  feet.  In  the  upper,  swifter  section  the 
precipitous  bluffs  rise  to  a  height  of  60  to  75  feet,  and  there  is 
little  valley;  but  in  the  lower  part  the  stream  occupies  a  pre- 
glacial valley  similar  to  that  occupied  by  the  Little  Wabash. 

SALINE  RIVER  SYSTEM 

The  Saline  River  system  drains  into  the  Ohio  that  portion  of 
southeastern  Illinois  which  lies  immediately  north  of  the  Ozark 
ridge.  Its  basin  covers  an  area  of  about  2,000  square  miles. 


THE   TOPOGRAPHY    AND    HYDROGRAPHY   OF    ILLINOIS  Ixvii 

lying  entirely  within  the  limits  of  the  Illinoisan  drift.  Part  of 
the  land  is  quite  broken  by  hills  and  ledges  which  range  in 
elevation  from  10  to  80  feet  above  the  high-water  mark  of  the 
streams.  A  large  part  of  the  country,  however,  is  level,  and 
much  of  the  land  may  be  termed  "wet,"  with  here  and  there  a 
not  inconsiderable  swamp  or  pond  occupying,  probably,  old 
waterways.  The  basin  is  crossed  by  "  Gold  Hill, "  which  extends 
through  Gallatin  and  Hamilton  counties  in  an  east  and  west 
direction.  This  ridge,  which  attains  a  height  of  343  feet  above 
the  high-water  mark  of  the  Ohio  River,  is  crossed  by  the  Saline 
River  a  few  miles  below  Equality.  The  soil  is  light-colored  clay 
loam,  and  a  large  part  of  it  is  still  covered  with  thick  timber. 

The  river  is  formed  in  western  Gallatin  county  by  the 
union  of  North  and  South  forks,  the  latter  being  joined  by 
Middle  Fork  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Saline  county.  From 
the  point  of  its  formation  the  main  stream  pursues  its  course 
along  the  base  of  the  Ozark  ridge  in  a  southeasterly  direction, 
emptying  into  the  Ohio  River  in  northeast  Hardin  county.  The 
three  forks  of  the  river  and  their  principal  tributaries  are,  in  the 
main,  re-established  along  preglacial  lines,  and  take  meandering 
courses  through  broad  valleys  which  have  been  filled  to  an 
elevation  of  50  to  100  feet  or  more  above  their  rock  bottoms. 

The  main  river  is  about  16  miles  long,  and  in  this  distance  it 
makes  a  descent  of  only  about  35  feet.  The  banks  of  the  river 
along  its  northern  border  are  low,  but  on  the  south  they  rise 
abruptly  and  often  to  a  height  of  150  feet,  especially  in  the  upper 
half,  where  the  river  hugs  more  closely  the  base  of  the  ridge. 
The  South  Fork  is  about  49  miles  in  length.  In  the  first  half 
mile,  as  it  descends  the  ridge,  it  falls  50  feet,  but  the  fall  grad- 
ually diminishes  to  50  feet  in  the  last  24  miles.  Its  total  descent 
is  about  300  feet.  The  banks  are  rather  high,  especially  along 
the  south,  where  they  rise  50  to  60  feet  above  the  water's  edge. 
Middle  Fork  is  only  about  26  miles  long,  with  a  fall  of  about  60 
feet.  North  Fork  in  the  first  mile  of  its  course  has  a  fall  of 
about  30  feet.  In  the  remaining  43  miles  a  descent  of  about 
60  feet  is  made.  The  banks  of  this  stream  are  low  and  subject 
to  frequent  overflow.  In  southeastern  Hamilton  county  the 
course  of  the  North  Fork  is  entirely  lost  for  about  3  miles  as  it 
crosses  a  swamp. 

The  course  of  the  main  stream  is  crooked  and  the  current 
sluggish,  with  long  stretches  of  quiet  water  where  soft  black  ooze 
can  accumulate  year  after  year,  and  where  a  typically  lacustrine 


Ixviii  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

vegetation  can  grow.  Here  Nuphar,  Nymphcea,  Potamogeton, 
and  the  limnophilous  species  of  filamentous  algae  abound.  In 
dry  weather  the  visible  flow  may  almost  cease  in  places,  and  in 
flood  a  full  stream  may  fill  the  banks  even  to  overflowing;  but  it 
is  never  quite  a  rushing  muddy  torrent,  nor  ever  quite  a  dry 
creek  with  scattered  pools  floored  with  gravel  or  naked  clay. 

CACHE  RIVER 

Cache  River  drains  the  eastern  part  of  Union  county,  the 
southwestern  half  of  Johnson  county,  the  northern  part  of 
Massac  county,  and  most  of  Pulask  and  Alexander  counties. 
The  edges  of  this  basin  are  not  clearly  defined,  but  it  probably 
covers  an  area  of  about  623  square  miles.  It  lies  entirely  in 
the  driftless  area  which  covers  the  southern  point  of  Illinois, 
just  south  of  the  Ozark  ridge.  The  basin  is  very  largely  made 
up  of  alluvial  bottom-lands  which  border  all  the  streams,  and 
which  in  southern  Alexander  county  extend  entirely  across  the 
state  from  the  Cache  River  to  the  Mississippi.  These  bottom- 
lands are  generally  flat,  and  are  interspersed  with  cypress  ponds 
and  marshes,  being  mostly  too  wet  for  cultivation  without  a 
very  thorough  system  of  drainage.  They  are  subject  to  annual 
inundations  from  the  floods  of  the  rivers,  and  are  generally 
covered  with  timber,  now  being  rapidly  removed  for  lumber. 
The  most  elevated  portions  of  these  bottom-lands,  however, 
have  a  light,  rich,  sandy  soil,  very  productive  when  cultivated. 
Farther  from  the  streams,  the  surface  of  the  country  is  roughly 
broken. 

The  Ohio  River  may,  at  one  time,  have  discharged  wholly 
or  in  part  through  " Cache  valley,"  which  crosses  southern 
Illinois  a  few  miles  north  of  its  present  course.  Its  point  of 
connection  with  Cache  valley  is  immediately  north  of  Metropolis, 
where  for  a  distance  of  4  to  5  miles  a  clay  deposit  has  accumu- 
lated in  the  line  of  the  old  valley.  The  surface  of  this  clay 
deposit  stands  only  about  75  feet  above  the  present  stream,  and 
is  much  lower  than  the  surface  of  the  Tertiary  deposits  on  either 
side.  It  is  not  known  as  yet,  whether  the  channel  formerly 
constituted  the  sole  line  of  discharge  for  the  Ohio  or  not. 
Possibly  the  river  divided  its  waters  between  the  Cache  and  its 
present  channel.  The  bluffs  of  the  powerful  stream  which 
excavated  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  extend  from  the  Mississippi 
half-way  across  Alexander  county,  and  then  turn  northeast, 


THE    TOPOGRAPHY    AXD    HYDROGRAPHY    OF    ILLINOIS  Ixix 

leaving  a  bottom  from  3  to  5  miles  in  w'dth  between  them  and 
the  Cache. 

The  headwaters  of  Cache  River  are  in  eastern  Union  county, 
the  river  winding  first  southeast,  then  south-southwest,  south, 
and  east,  emptying  finally  into  the  Ohio  River  a  few  miles 
below  Mound  City.  It  traverses  a  distance  of  about  73  miles, 
beginning  at  an  altitude  of  500  feet.  It  falls  50  feet  in  a  little 
over  2  miles,  100  feet  in  the  next  15  miles,  and  only  70  feet  in 
the  remainder  of  its  course.  Near  its  head  it  has  a  definite 
channel,  but  just  west  of  the  Union- Johnson  county  line  it 
enters  its  first  cypress  swamp.  This,  however,  is  very  small, 
and  the  bottom-lands  again  become  higher  and  drier,  averaging 
about  half  a  mile  in  width  for  the  next  nine  miles.  Then  for  a 
distance  of  about  3  miles  there  is  scarcely  any  bottom-land, 
below  which  the  river  enters  an  extensive  cypress  swamp  having 
a  width  of  5  miles  in  some  places.  A  few  miles  above  Collins- 
burg  the  bottom  again  becomes  narrow  and  ledges  of  sandstone 
form  the  bed  of  the  stream,  which  here  is  clear  and  swift.  Below 
this  point  the  water  is  nearly  stagnant,  brown  in  color,  and  full 
of  drifted  logs.  The  lowlands  average  about  three  fourths  of  a 
mile  in  width  to  near  the  mouth  of  Dutchman  creek,  where 
they  spread  out  to  almost  two  miles.  At  the  Massac  county 
line,  Cache  River  enters  the  main  swamp  region  which  extends 
across  Pulaski  county,  and  below  these  swamps  the  river  winds 
about  through  wide  bottoms  to  its  mouth.  The  backwater  of 
the  Ohio  reaches  up  Cache  River  hardly  as  far  as  Ullin,  and 
floods  above  this  point  are  more  immediately  caused  by  the 
headwaters  of  the  stream  when  their  discharge  is  impeded  by 
backwater.  The  country  around  the  upper  Cache  is  hilly  and 
precipitous,  and  so  in  times  of  freshets  it  pours  immense  quan- 
tities of  water  into  this  lower  flat,  which  then  becomes  a  reservoir. 
As  the  waters  which  the  Cache  carries  come  from  the  Missis- 
sippian  and  cretaceous,  they  are  somewhat  different  in  mineral 
characteristics  from  any  of  the  rivers  heretofore  described. 

BIG  BAY  CREEK 

Big  Bay  creek  drains  275  square  miles  in  eastern  Johnson 
and  western  Pope  counties — an  area  very  similar  in  character 
to  that  drained  by  the  Cache.  The  stream  rises  in  northwestern 
Pope  county,  flows  southwest  into  Johnson  county,  takes  there 
a  southeasterly  direction,  and  empties  into  the  Ohio  near  Bay 


1XX  FISHES   OP   ILLINOIS 

City.  It  has  a  length  of  about  40  miles,  with  an  alt'tude  of 
750  feet  at  its  source  and  of  300  feet  at  its  mouth.  In  the  upper 
7  miles  it  falls  300  feet  and  the  banks  are  steep  and  abrupt; 
but  below,  the  river  valley  expands  into  a  swampy  region  3  to 
4  miles  in  width.  These  swamps  connect  with  those  of  the 
Cache  River,  and  often  the  headwaters  of  the  latter  stream  find 
their  way  to  the  Big  Bay  and  down  it  to  the  Ohio.  At  other 
times,  high  water  in  the  Ohio  produces  a  flow  through  Big  Bay, 
the  swamps,  and  down  the  Cache.  Much  is  now  being  done, 
through  tiling  and  ditching,  to  separate  completely  the  basins 
of  the  two  streams  and  to  make  each  course  distinct.  In  the 
lower  8  miles  of  its  course  the  banks  again  hug  the  river  closely, 
and  rise  on  either  side  to  a  height  of  250  to  300  feet. 

THE  LAKE  MICHIGAN  DRAINAGE 

In  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state  there  is  a  narrow  belt 
of  land  from  ten  to  twenty  miles  in  width  bordering  Lake 
Michigan  and  sending  its  waters  into  that  lake  through  many 
small,  short  streams,  only  two  of  which  are  of  sufficient  size  to 
received  especial  mention,  namely,  the  Chicago  and  the  Calumet 
rivers.  Much  of  this  area,  including  the  present  site  of  Chicago, 
was  formerly  part  of  a  great  glacial  lake  known  to  geologists  as 
Lake  Chicago,  which  existed  at  the  same  time  as  the  "  Chicago 
Outlet"  (see  page  xxxiv) .  It  discharged  its  waters  southward 
through  this  outlet  instead  of  northward  as  at  the  present  time. 
This  tract  of  land  now  lies  as  a  relatively  level  plain,  diversified 
with  old  lake-beaches  and  low  glacial  moraines.  It  is  very 
poorly  drained  and  is  filled  with  swamps  and  lakes. 

The  small  short  streams  are  mostly  to  be  found  in  Lake 
county,  where  they  drain  a  strip  from  two  to  four  miles  in  width 
directly  bordering  the  lake.  They  rise  in  the  morainic  ridge 
which  here  extends  north  and  south  along  the  shore  at  an 
altitude  of  about  700  ft.,  and  from  its  crest  they  make  very 
rapid  and  direct  descents  to  the  lake. 

Chicago  River  rises  in  northern  Cook  county  and  flows 
south  and  east  for  a  distance  of  29  miles,  emptying  into  Lake 
Michigan  about  a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  the  Illinois  Central 
station  in  Chicago,  and  draining  an  area  of  226  square  miles. 
It  rises  in  a  swampy  area  at  an  elevation  of  630  ft.  above  tide 
and  makes  a  descent  of  20  ft.  in  the  first  two  and  a  half  miles  of 
its  course.  Below  this,  however,  it  has  almost  no  fall,  the  mouth 


THE    TOPOGKAPHY    AXD    HYDROGRAPHY    OF    ILLINOIS  Ixxi 

of  the  stream  lying  at  about  600  ft.  above  tide.  Nine  miles 
from  its  source  Chicago  River  is  joined  by  a  branch  from  the 
east.  This  latter  stream  rises  in  Lake  county  in  another  swampy 
intermorainic  area  at  an  elevation  of  660  ft.,  and  in  its  length 
of  12  miles  makes  a  descent  of  50  ft.  Although  the  upper 
courses  of  this  stream  and  of  the  main  river  can  not  be  definitely 
traced  farther  up-stream  than  mentioned  above,  they  seem  to 
drain  indirectly  a  series  of  marshes  lying  between  moraines 
extending  north  and  south  within  those  directly  bordering  Lake 
Michigan  and  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Des  Plaines  water- 
shed. About  one  mile  from  its  mouth  Chicago  River  is  joined 
by  the  South  Branch.  This  river  connects  with  the  Des  Plaines 
near  Summit  and,  as  stated  in  the  description  of  the  latter 
river,  it  has  afforded  a  line  of  discharge  for  the  upper  Des 
Plaines  from  the  time  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  lake  down  to 
historic  times.  The  size  and  depth  of  its  channel  are  such  as  to 
seem  to  demand  the  work  of  a  stream  as  large  as  the  Des  Plaines. 
Even  in  quite  recent  years  this  river  at  high-water  has  been 
known  to  overflow  into  the  South  Chicago  channel  and  thus 
to  discharge  some  of  its  water  into  Lake  Michigan.  With  the 
exception  of  a  few  miles  at  the  headwaters  of  North  Fork,  the 
entire  drainage  system  lies  within  the  limits  of  old  Lake  Chicago. 
The  southward  course  of  the  stream  outside  of  the  lake  bottom 
is  occasioned  by  till  ridges  of  the  Lake  Border  morainic  system, 
the  one  on  the  east  preventing  direct  discharge  into  Lake 
Michigan.  Within  the  limits  of  Lake  Chicago  the  stream  follows 
the  slope  of  the  old  lake  bottom. 

Calumet  River  has  its  headwaters  in  the  Valparaiso  mo- 
rainic system  south  of  Michigan  City,  Indiana.  Its  numerous 
tributaries  also  rise  in  this  system,  and  they  and  the  main 
stream,  on  descending  from  this  ridge,  flow  in  the  lowland 
formerly  covered  by  Lake  Chicago.  Here  their  courses  are 
controlled  to  some  extent  by  the  lines  of  sand-dunes  formed 
along  the  benches  of  the  old  lake,  and,  to  a  slight  extent,  by 
till  ridges.  The  streams  have  almost  no  fall,  and  the  section 
through  which  they  flow  is  filled  with  swamps  and  lakes.  The 
course  of  the  river  is  meandering,  and  at  times  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  determine  the  direction  of  the  flow  of  water,  as  in 
the  swampy  region  near  Blue  Island.  Lake  Calumet,  near 
Pullman,  Illinois,  is  the  largest  of  the  many  tributary  lakes. 
The  mouth  of  the  stream  is  at  South  Chicago,  Illinois,  at  an 
altitude  of  about  580  ft. 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 


ON  THE  GENERAL  AND  INTERIOR  DISTRIBUTION 
OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES 

The  geography  of  Illinois  is,  in  its  most  obvious  features,  so 
simple  and  so  monotonous  that  one  naturally  expects  a  similar 
simplicity  and  monotony  in  the  geographic  distribution  of  its 
plants  and  animals.  The  plan  of  its  hydrography  is  as  little 
complicated  as  the  geography  of  its  land  areas.  Surrounded  on 
more  than  two  thirds  of  its  circumference  by  three  large  rivers, 
the  Mississippi,  the  Ohio,  and  the  Wabash,  with  Lake  Michigan 
covering  a  narrow  strip  at  its  northeast  corner  and  draining  a 
bordering  region  of  scarcely  greater  area,  its  other  waters  flow 
southwestward  into  the  Mississippi  and  southward  into  the 
Wabash  and  the  Ohio,  all  mingling  finally  opposite  its  southern- 
most extremity  for  their  journey  to  the  Gulf.  Its  principal 
watersheds  are  inconspicuous  ridges  or  slightly  elevated  plains, 
most  of  them  originally  more  or  less  marshy,  and  the  head- 
waters and  tributaries  of  its  various  stream  systems  so  approach 
and  intermingle  that  in  times  of  flood  they  formed  an  interlacing 
network,  through  which  it  would  seem  that  a  wandering  fish 
might  have  found  its  way  in  almost  any  direction  and  to  almost 
any  place. 

Its  climate  varies  considerably,  of  course,  within  the  five 
and  a  half  degrees  of  its  length  from  north  to  south,  but  by 
nsensible  gradations,  with  no  lines  of  abrupt  transition  anywhere 
to  set  definite  boundaries  to  the  range  of  its  aquatic  species. 

Its  surface  geology  is  more  diversified  than  its  topography, 
and  its  soils,  although  uniformly  fertile  throughout  most  of  the 
state,  differ  notably  in  their  origin  and  physical  constitution, 
some  of  these  differences  being  such  as  to  affect  more  or  less 
the  surface  waters  and,  through  them,  to  influence  the  conditions 
of  aquatic  life.  The  extreme  northwestern  and  the  extreme 
southern  parts  of  the  state  are  bare  of  drift;  but  the  surface  of 
all  the  remainder  of  the  state,  excepting  a  small  area  above 
the  mouth  of  the  Illinois,  has  been  repeatedly  worked  over  by 
ice  in  the  course  of  the  successive  divisions  of  the  glacial  period. 
The  oldest  glaciated  area,  known  as  the  lower  Illinoisan  glacia- 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION  Ixxiii 

tion,  covers  the  greater  part  of  southern  Illinois  and  a  narrow 
belt  of  the  southeast  part  of  the  central  section  of  the  state. 
Next  to  this  at  the  northwest,  and  immediately  east  of  the 
lower  half  of  the  Illinois  River,  is  the  middle  Illinoisan;  above 
this,  in  the  west-central  part  of  the  state,  between  the  Illinois 
River  and  the  Rock,  is  the  upper  Illinoisan;  and  still  farther 
north,  in  the  Rock  River  basin,  are  the  lowan  and  Preiowan 
glaciations,  reaching  northward  across  the  Wisconsin  boundary. 
East  of  the  last  three  mentioned,  and  north  of  the  southern 
Illinois  district,  the  Wisconsin  glaciation,  the  most  recent  of  the 
series,  covers  about  a  fourth  of  the  state.  It  is  to  the  peculiar 
features  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation  especially,  that  we 
shall  presently  be  compelled  to  pay  particular  attention,  because 
of  their  evident  effect  on  the  distribution  of  a  considerable 
group  of  our  fishes. 

The  topographical  relations  of  the  state  to  the  surrounding 
territory  are  as  simple  and  open  as  its  own  interior  hydrography, 
and  there  is  little  to  suggest  the  possibility  of  anything  in  the 
least  peculiar  in  the  general  constitution  or  the  relat  ons  of  its 
fauna,  or  anything  problematical  or  especially  interesting  in 
the  details  of  the  distribution  of  its  native  fishes.  We  shall  find 
reason  to  believe,  however,  that  this  appearance  is  misleading, 
and  that  the  subject,  studied  in  detail,  contains  matter  of 
unusual  interest,  and  presents  problems  of  considerable  difficulty, 
a  solution  of  which  will  lead  us  to  some  novel  results. 

It  is  true,  however,  generally  speaking,  that  the  distribution 
of  Illinois  fishes  reflects,  in  uniformity  and  relative  monotony, 
the  features  of  the  topography  of  the  state.  A  few  species 
occurring  in  Lake  Michigan  and  characteristic  of  the  Great 
Lakes  are,  in  fact,  the  only  Illinois  fishes  which  are  definitely 
and  permanently  separated  from  their  fellows  in  other  Illinois 
waters  by  what  may  be  ca'led  geographical  conditions,  and 
these  conditions  are  not  physical  obstacles  to  their  passage 
from  Lake  Michigan  to  the  Illinois  River. 

Excluding,  for  the  moment,  these  fishes  special  to  the  Great 
Lakes,  we  find  elsewhere  in  Illinois  a  general  commingling  and 
overlapping  of  the  fish  population  of  the  surrounding  territory, 
the  limits  to  whose  range  are  climatic,  local,  and  ecological,  but 
topographic  only  in  a  secondary  sense. 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


THE    GENERAL   DISTRIBUTION 


Most  of  the  150  species  of  the  native  fishes  of  Illinois  range 
far  and  wide  in  all  directions  beyond  its  narrow  boundaries, 
thus  illustrating  the  breadth  and  the  simplicity  of  our  geo- 
graphical affiliations  with  the  surrounding  territory;  but  a  con- 
siderable number,  on  the  other  hand,  coming  into  Illinois  from 
one  direction,  do  not  pass  beyond  it  in  another,  some  part  of 
the  boundary  of  the  general  area  of  their  distribution  passing 
through  our  state.  Several  southern  fishes  go  no  farther  north 
than  Illinois;  some  northern  fishes  go  no  farther  south;  some 
eastern  species  find  here  their  western  limit;  and  a  few  western 
species  range  no  farther  east.  The  comparison  of  these  geo- 
graphical groups  whose  areas  overlap  by  their  borders  here  in 
Illinois  is  a  matter  of  special  interest  to  the  student  of  distribu- 
tion, because  it  is  in  them  that  we  find  indicated  the  more 
remote  affinities  of  our  fish  fauna,  and  from  them,  if  anywhere, 
we  may  glean  suggestions  of  its  various  origins. 

It  will  be  convenient  for  a  discussion  of  this  subject  to 
divide  the  general  expanse  over  which  Illinois  fishes  are  dis- 
tributed, into  the  following  twelve  districts:  1,  the  upper  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  including  the  Missouri  and  its  tributaries;  2,  the 
lower  Mississippi  Valley,  including  the  Ohio  and  its  tributaries; 
3,  the  far  North,  extending  northward  from  the  headwaters  of 
the  Mississippi,  east  to  the  Lake  Superior  drainage,  and  west 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains;  4,  the  far  Northwest,  separated  from 
the  preceding  by  the  Rocky  Mountains  range;  5,  the  Great 
Lake  region;  6,  the  district  of  Quebec  and  New  England;  7,  the 
Hudson  River  district;  8,  the  north  Atlantic  drainage,  from  New 
England  to  the  Chesapeake  Bay;  9,  the  south  Atlantic,  from 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  to  Florida;  10,  the  peninsula  of  Florida;  11, 
the  east  Gulf  district,  bounded  by  the  Mississippi  drainage  on 
the  west;  and  12,  the  west  Gulf  district,  bounded  by  the  Missis- 
sippi drainage  on  the  east,  and  extending  west  and  south  to 
include  the  Rio  Grande  and  its  tributaries.  The  following 
table  shows  the  recorded  distribution  of  our  species  over  the 
territory  so  divided. 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 
TABLE  OP  THE  GENERAL  DISTRIBUTION  OP  ILLINOIS  FISHES 


Ixxv 


Silvery  lamprey  (Ichthyomyzon) .... 

Brook  lamprey  (Lampetra) 

Paddle-fish  (Polyodon) 

Lake  sturgeon  (Acipenser) 

Shovel-nosed  sturgeon 

White  sturgeon  (P.  albus) . ... 

Long-nosed  gar 

Short-nosed  gar 

Alligator-gar 

Dogfish  (Amia) 

Mooneye  (alosoides) 

Toothed  herring  (tergisus) 

Gizzard-shad  (Dowsoma) 

Skipjack  (chrysochloris) 

Whitefish 

Lake  herring 

Lake  trout 

Eel 

Black-horse  (Cycleptus) 

Red-mouth  buffalo  (cyprinella) 

Mongrel  buffalo  (urus) 

Small-mouth  buffalo  (bubalus) 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 
TABLE  OF  THE  GENERAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES — continued 


Great  Lake  Basin 

Quebec  and  New  England 

& 
a 

W 

North  Atlantic 

South  Atlantic 

Florida  Peninsula 

East  Gulf 

Lower  Miss,  and  Ohio 

Upper  Miss,  and  Mo. 

West  Gulf  and  Rio  Grande 

Far  Northwest 

Far  North 

River  carp  (carpio)    .  . 

-|- 

4- 

4- 

Blunt-nosed  carp  (difformis)  

-f 

4- 

Lake  carp  (ihompsoni)    ... 

4- 

+ 

4- 

Quillback  carp  (velifer) 

4- 

4. 

4- 

4- 

+ 

4- 

+ 

-(- 

-|- 

-[- 

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-|- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

+ 

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4- 

4- 

4- 

+ 

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-f- 

4- 

4- 

White-nosed  sucker  (anisurum)  
Common  red-horse  (aureolum)  

+ 
+ 

+ 
+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 
4- 

+ 
4- 

4- 
4- 

Short-headed  red-horse  (breviceps)  .... 
Placopharynx  duquesnei  

+ 
4- 

+ 

+ 
4- 

+ 
4- 

Harelipped  sucker  (Lagochila)  

4- 

4- 

4- 

4. 

_(- 

4- 

4. 

4- 

4. 

Red-bellied  dace  (Chrosomus)  

4- 

+ 

+ 

-f 

4- 

4- 

Silvery  minnow  (H  .  nuchalis)  

+ 

+ 

+ 

4- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

Hybognathus  nubila  

4- 

4- 

Black-head  minnow  (P.  promelas)  .  .    . 

4. 

+ 

4- 

4- 

+ 

4- 

Blunt-nosed  minnow  (P.  notatua)  
Horned  dace  (Semotilus)  
Opsopaeodus  emilice  

+ 
+ 
-}- 

+ 
+ 

+ 

+ 
+ 

+ 
-f- 

+ 
+ 
+ 

+ 
+ 
4- 

+ 
+ 

4- 

Golden  shiner  (Abramis)  

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION  Ixxvii 

TABLE  OF  THE  GENERAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES — continued 


Bullhead  minnow  (Cliola  vigilax) 

Notropis  anogenus 

N.  cayuga 

N.  cayuga  atrocaudalis 

N.  heterodon 

Straw-colored  minnow  (N.  blennius) .  . 

N.  phenacobius 

N.gilberti 

N.  illecebrosus 

Redfin  (N.  lutrensis) 

Spot-tailed  minnow  (N.  hudsonius) .  .  . 

Silverfin  (N.  whipplii) 

Common  shiner  (N.  cornutus) 

Notropis  pihbryi 

N.  jejunus 

Shiner  (N.  atherinoides) 

Notropis  rubrifrons 

Blackfin  (N.  umbratUis  atripes) 

Ericymba  buccata 

Sucker-mouthed  minnow  (Phenacobius) 

Long-nosed  dace  (R.  cataractae) 

Black-nosed  dace  (R.  atronasus) 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 
TABLE  OF  THE  GENERAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES — continued 


Hybopsis  hyostomus 

Spotted  shiner  (H.  dissimilis) 

Silver  chub  (amblops) 

Storer's  chub 

River  chub  (kentuckiensis) 

Flat-headed  chub  (Pldtygobio) 

Blue  cat  (furcatus) 

Ictalurus  anguilla 

Channel-cat  (punctalus) 

Great  Lake  catfish  (Idcustris) 

Yellow  bullhead  (natalis) 

Common  bullhead  (nebulosus) 

Black  bullhead  (melas) 

Mud-cat  (Leptops) 

Common  stonecat  (N.  fidvus) 

Tadpole  cat  (<S.  gyrinus) 

Freckled  stonecat  (S.  nocturnus) 

Slender  stonecat  (S.  exilis) 

Brindled  stonecat  (S.  miurus) 

Mud-minnow 

Grass  pike  (Esox  vermiculalus) 

Pike  (E.  Indus) 


GENERAL    .VXD    INTERIOR    DISTRIBUTION 
TABLE  OF  THE  GENERAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES — continued 


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Muskallunge  

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Menona  top-minnow  (F.  diaphanus  m.) 

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Striped  top-minnow  (F.  dispar)  

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Common  top-minnow  (F.  notatus)  .... 

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Viviparous  top-minnow  (affinis)  

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Chologaster  papilliferus 

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Brook  stickleback  

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Nine-spined  stickleback  

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Trout-perch 

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Brook  silverside  

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Pirate-perch  

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Pigmv  sunfish  (Elassomo)    .  .  . 

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White  crappie  (annularis)  

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Black  crappie  (sparoides)  

4 

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Round  sunfish  .  . 

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Rock  bass  

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Warmouth  (ChcRnobryttus) 

4 

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Green  sunfish  (cyanellus) 

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Lepomis  ischyrus 

4 

L.  symmelricus  

4 

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L.  euryorus  

4 

+ 

Lepomis  miniatus  

4 

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4 

4 

1XXX  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

TABLE  OF  THE  GENERAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES— continued 


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Long-eared  sunfish  

4- 

+ 

+ 

4- 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Orange-spotted  sunfish  (humilis)  

+ 

4- 

4- 

Bluegill  (pallidus)  

4- 

4- 

+ 

4- 

4- 

Eupomotis  heros 

4. 

4 

Pumpkinseed  (gibbosus)  

+ 

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4- 

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Small-mouthed  black  bass  

4 

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Large-mouthed  black  bass  

4 

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Pike-perch  (S.  vitreum)  

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4- 

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4- 

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4 

4 

Sauger  (S.  canadense  griseum) 

4. 

4. 

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Yellow  perch  

4. 

4. 

4. 

4- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

Log-perch  (P.  caprodes) 

4. 

4. 

4- 

Hadropterus  evermanni  

H.  phoxocephalus  

4- 

+ 

+ 

Black-sided  darter  (H.  aspro)  

+ 

+ 

4 

+ 

+ 

Hadropterus  ouachitx  

4- 

H.  evides  .  .  . 

4- 

4. 

4. 

H.  scierus  

4- 

Cottogaster  shumardi  

4. 

4- 

4- 

Green-sided  darter  (blennioides)  

+ 

Johnny  darter  (B.  nigrum)  

4- 

4- 

+ 

+ 

4- 

4 

+ 

4- 

Boleosoma  camurum  

•+ 

4- 

+ 

4- 

Crystallaria  asprella 

+" 

4. 

GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 
TABLE  OF  THE  GENERAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES— concluded 


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Sand  darter  (Ammocrypta)  

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Banded  darter  (E.  zonale)  

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Blue-breasted  darter  (E.  camurum) 

4- 

4- 

4- 

Etheostoma  iowce 

4- 

4- 

E  jessice 

4- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

+ 

Rainbow  darter  (E  coeruleum)    . 

4- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

+ 

4- 

4- 

4- 

Fan-tailed  darter  (E  flabellare) 

4- 

4- 

4. 

4_ 

4- 

4- 

Boleichthys  fusiformis  

4- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

+ 

+ 

Least  darter  (Microperca)  

+ 

White  bass  (Roccus  chrysops)  

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Yellow  bass  (Morone)  

4- 

^_ 

Sheepshead  (Aplodinotus)  

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Miller's  thumb  

4- 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

4- 

+ 

Coitus  ricei  

4_ 

Burbot  (Lota)            .... 

4- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

4- 

+ 

Number  of  species  

108 

53 

19 

40 

45 

23 

56 

134 

131 

47 

4 

37 

Ixxxii 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


Arranged  according  to  the  number  of  Illinois  species  in  each, 
these  districts  succeed  each  other  in  the  following  order. 


DISTRICTS 

No.  of 
species 

Per  cent,  of 
all  Illinois 
species 

Lower  Mississippi  and  Ohio  valleys  
Upper  Mississippi  and  Missouri  valleys  
The  Great  Lake  basin  
The  east  Gulf  district 

134 
131 

108 
56 

89 
87 
72 
37 

53 

36 

The  west  Gulf  and  Rio  Grande  district  
The  south  Atlantic  district  

47 
45 

31 
30 

The  north  Atlantic  district  
The  far  North  
The  Florida  peninsula  
The  Hudson  drainage  
The  far  Northwest  

40 
37 
23 
19 

4 

27 
25 
15 
13 
3 

Next  to  the  two  Mississippi  Valley  districts  and  the  Great 
Lake  basin,  which  average  124  Illinois  species,  our  fishes  are 
most  largely  represented  in  the  east  Gulf  and  the  Quebec  and 
New  England  districts,  averaging  54  Illinois  species — the  first 
closely  related  to  the  lower  Mississippi,  and  the  second  a  con- 
tinuation eastward  of  the  Great  Lake  basin.  Then  follow  the 
north  and  south  Atlantic  and  the  west  Gulf  districts,  with  an 
average  of  43  species;  the  far  North,  the  Florida  peninsula,  and 
the  Hudson  River  districts,  with  37  to  19  species;  and,  finally, 
the  far  Northwest,  with  but  4  Illinois  species. 

The  northern  and  the  southern  affiliations  of  the  assemblage 
of  fishes  represented  in  our  Illinois  collect'' ons  may  be  contrasted 
by  comparing  the  list  of  Illinois  species  occurring  in  either  or 
both  of  the  more  northerly  divisions — that  is,  the  far  North 
and  the  Quebec  and  New  England  districts — on  the  one  hand, 
with  a  list  of  those  found  in  either  or  all  of  the  three  most 
southerly  districts — that  is,  the  Florida  peninsula,  the  east 
Gulf,  and  the  west  Gulf  and  Rio  Grande — on  the  other  hand. 
In  this  northern  list  of  Illinois  fishes  there  are  64  species,  and  in 
the  southern  list  there  are  77;  but  25  of  these  species  are  more 
or  less  common  to  both  north  and  south,  leaving  39  Illinois 
fishes  distinctively  northern  in  their  distribution  and  52  dis- 
tinctively southern.  Northern  and  southern  species  thus  mingle 
in  our  territory  in  unequal  proportions,  the  southern  element 
largely  preponderating. 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION  Ixxxiii 

If  we  look  to  the  further  distribution  of  the  northern  and 
southern  elements  of  our  fish  population,  distinguishing  north- 
eastern from  northwestern  species,  and  southeastern  from 
southwestern,  we  find  that  the  southeastern  species  largely 
outnumber  the  southwestern  in  Illinois,  and  that  the  north- 
eastern outnumber  the  northwestern.  Thus  there  are  47  species 
of  the  west  Gulf  and  Rio  Grande  region  in  this  state,  and  58 
species  of  the  east  Gulf  and  Florida  districts. 

Further,  there  are  more  species  known  as  common  to  Illinois 
and  the  far  northeast  than  there  are  to  Illinois  and  the  south- 
western district  of  the  west  Gulf  and  the  Rio  Grande.  Not- 
withstanding the  much  greater  distance  from  us  of  the  Quebec 
and  New  England  district,  there  are  53  of  the  fishes  of  that 
region  known  in  Illinois  to  47  of  those  of  the  west  Gulf  district. 
The  northeastern  fishes  have,  however,  been  much  more  carefully 
collected  than  the  southwestern,  and  an  equal  knowledge  of 
both  districts  might  change  these  relative  numbers. 

THE    INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 

The  interior  distribution  of  the  fishes  of  the  state  may  best 
be  exhibited  by  treating  each  considerable  stream-system  as  a 
unit,  and  comparing  the  fishes  of  each  such  system  with  all  the 
others.  The  state  may  be  convenient"  y  divided  into  ten  such 
hydrographic  districts,  as  follows: 

1.  The  Galena  district,  including  the  streams  of  the  north- 
western unglaciated  area,  most  of  which  empty  into  the  Mis- 
sissippi through  Galena,  Apple,  and  Plum  rivers.  2.  The  Rock 
River  district,  extending  southward  and  westward  from  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  state  to  the  Mississippi  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Rock.  3.  The  Illinois  district,  including  the  entire 
drainage  of  the  Illinois  River.  4.  The  Michigan  district,  a 
narrow  strip  along  the  borders  of  Lake  Michigan — the  Lake 
Michigan  drainage — most  of  which  centers  in  the  Chicago  and 
the  Calumet  rivers.  5.  The  Mississippi  River,  and  an  irregular 
strip  adjacent  not  included  in  any  of  the  more  definite  river 
systems  and  mainly  drained  by  small  streams  of  the  bluffs  and 
neighboring  highlands.  This  district  is  divided  by  the  lower  end 
of  the  Illinois  basin.  6.  The  Kaskaskia  basin.  7.  The  Illinois 
drainage  of  the  Wabash,  including  that  stream  itself  so  far  as 
it  helps  to  form  the  boundary  line  between  Illinois  and  Indiana. 
8.  The  basin  of  the  Big  Muddy  River,  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  state.  9.  The  Saline  River  basin,  in  the  southeastern 


Ixxxiv 


FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 


part  of  the  state.  10.  The  Cairo  district,  the  driftless  area  of 
extreme  southern  Illinois,  drained  by  the  Cache  River  and 
smaller  tributaries  of  the  Ohio.  The  Ohio  itself  is  included  in 
this  last  district. 

The  following  list  and  table  gives  the  details  of  the  distri- 
bution of  the  species  in  a  way  to  show  the  number  of  collections 
of  each  species  made  by  us  from  each  district.  A  cross  opposite 
a  species  name  indicates  that  the  species  occurs  in  the  basin 
mentioned  at  the  head  of  the  column,  but  that  it  is  not  repre- 
sented by  preserved  collections  affording  numerical  data. 

INTERIOR  DISTRIBUTION  OP  ILLINOIS  FISHES  BY  RIVER  SYSTEMS 
SPECIES  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS  OF  EACH 


Districts 

Sections 

J3 

s 

& 

0 

1 

£ 

3 

1 

."2 

.22 

O 

M 

•fi, 

03 

s 

"S 

« 

s 

.2 

1 

s 

15 

•a 

T3 

9 

Q 

? 

"3 
O 

M 

a 

^S 

s 

1 

^ 

i 

I 

if 

02 

1 

1 

I 

1 

Number  of  species  

44 

92 

128 

57 

97 

69 

95 

42 

55 

101 

120 

123 

119 

Collections  made  

13 

73 

1115 

20 

57 

41 

103 

10. 

18 

95 

269 

1083 

192 

Silvery  lamprey  

1 

1? 

1 

+ 

1 

T 

• 

+ 

Brook  lamprey 

1 

1 

4- 

0 

4- 

Paddle-fish 

s 

4- 

4- 

1 

0 

4- 

4- 

Lake  sturgeon  

+ 

4- 

4- 

Shovel-nosed  sturgeon  

4- 

4- 

+ 

+ 

0 

4- 

White  sturgeon  

4 

0 

_j_ 

0 

Long-nosed  gar  

1 

flO 

1 

10 

1 

+ 

4 

+ 

Short-nosed  gar  .  .  .  .•  

1 

52 

4 

+ 

1 

+ 

4- 

+ 

Alligator-gar  .  . 

4. 

4- 

, 

0 

4- 

4- 

Dogfish  

?7 

1 

+ 

1 

2 

1 

4- 

4- 

Mooneye  

1 

+ 

0 

GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 


Ixxxv 


INTERIOR  DISTR.BUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES  BY  RIVER  SYSTEMS 
SPECIES  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS  OF  EACH — continued 


Districts 

Sections 

-8 
•fl 

tainage 

§ 

•8 

1 

S3 

1 

Q 

>> 

tS 

Q 

g 

•3 

I 

I 

3 

1 

I 

- 

-i 

O 

1 

1 

•| 

at 

« 

a 

2 

t! 

-S 

+3 

o 

1 

i 

1 

1 

a 

i 

a 

1 

g 

o 
ft 

0 

1 

Toothed  herring 

8 

i 

+ 

7 

+ 

+ 

4. 

Gizzard-shad  

i 

3 

89 

i 

i 

7 

2 

3 

+ 

+ 

Skipjack  

2 

1 

3 

2 

+ 

+ 

+ 

4- 

Whitefish  

+ 

+ 

0 

0 

Lake  heiring  

+ 

+ 

0 

0 

Lake  trout 

, 

+ 

o 

o 

Eel 

4- 

4- 

4. 

4- 

4. 

Black-horse  

1 

2 

0 

+ 

Red-mouth  buffalo  

1 

1 

28 

9 

2 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Mongrel  buffalo  

1 

17 

i 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Small-mouth  buffalo  

1 

1 

46 

i 

9 

2 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

River  carp  

1 

11 

2 

1 

+ 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Blunt-nosed  carp  

1 

6 

54 

8 

15 

21 

3 

3 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Lake  carp  

10 

1 

+ 

+ 

0 

Quillback  carp  

1 

19 

39 

1 

1 

8 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Chub-sucker  

4 

48 

2 

21 

47 

6 

7 

10 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Striped  sucker  

1 

1 

13 

i 

13 

16 

1 

1 

3 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Common  sucker  

1 

14 

69 

9 

5 

26 

3 

9 

4. 

4. 

4. 

*• 

Long-nosed  sucker  

+ 

+ 

0 

0 

Hogsucker  

1 

11 

61 

1 

9 

27 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

White-nosed  sucker  

2 

14 

+ 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Ixxxvi 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


INTERIOR  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES  BY  RIVER  SYSTEMS 
SPECIES  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS  OF  EACH — continued 


Districts 

Sections 

1 

1 
0 

1 

B 

G 

H 
a] 

.1 

2 

s 

J> 

O 

>> 

"En 

Q 

o3 

% 

s 

CO 

I 

.& 

'J2 
«j 

- 

T) 
3 

Q 

*3 

*O 

•a 

o3 

\ 

s 

g 

2 

•5 

£ 

•5 

o 

1 

1 

1 

1 

I 

03 

bC 

s 

1 

'S 
O 

o 
fc 

1 

1 

I 

Common  red-horse  

2 

13 

90 

5 

10 

25 

1 

2 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Short-headed  red-horse  

4 

39 

1 

3 

7 

2 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Placopharynx  duquesnei  .... 

1 

1 

+ 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Harelipped  sucker  

+ 

0 

0 

+ 

Stone-roller  

1 

20 

99 

14 

9 

36 

1 

1 

10 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Red-bellied  dace              .    .  . 

4 

13 

2 

4 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Silvery  minnow  

2 

6 

86 

1 

16 

10 

27 

6 

11 

18 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Hybognathus  nubUa  

1 

3 

1 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Black-head  minnow  

8 

67 

12 

6 

5 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Blunt-nosed  minnow  

3 

33 

162 

3 

19 

31 

77 

8 

13 

25 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Homed  dace  

1 

9 

72 

16 

10 

24 

4 

6 

14 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Opsopoeodus  emiliae  

3 

49 

1 

1 

1 

18 

3 

6 

4 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Golden  shiner  

1 

18 

183 

1 

8 

19 

50 

7 

10 

10 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Bullhead  minnow  

1 

14 

110 

5 

22 

38 

1 

3 

2 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Notropis  anogenus  

2 

_j_ 

0 

0 

Notropis  cayuga  

1 

4 

29 

2 

5 

1 

1 

+ 

0 

N.  heterodon  

5 

81 

1 

1 

4 

3 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Straw-colored  minnow  .... 

1 

22 

108 

4 

9 

6 

44 

2 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Notropis  phenacobius  

2 

+ 

0 

0 

N.gilberti  

3 

15 

10 

2 

+ 

+ 

+ 

N.  illecebrosus  

2 

1 

17 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 


Ixxxvii 


INTERIOR  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES  BY  RIVER  SYSTEMS 
SPECIES  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS  OF  EACH — continued 


Districts 

Sections 

f 

73 

1 

1 

! 

2 
Q 

Bj 

§ 

•a 

— 

1 

•o 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 
i 

i 

i 

a 

I 

1 

1 

1 

J 

1 

Spot-tailed  minnow  

4 

133 

4 

4 

2 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Redfin  

1 

142 

9 

16 

4 

4 

1 

10 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Silverfin  

3 

34 

116 

1 

8 

29 

71 

2 

3 

6 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Common  shiner  

1 

19 

105 

11 

14 

22 

1 

12 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Notropis  pUsbryi  

1 

+ 

0 

0 

N  .  jejunus  

1 

5 

21 

1 

10 

5 

2 

5 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Shiner 

3 

8 

82 

6 

8 

4 

19 

4 

6 

11 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Notropis  rubrifrons 

2 

4 

8 

+ 

+ 

0 

Blackfin  

2 

9 

67 

3 

25 

56 

5 

11 

19 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Ericymba  buccata  

4 

25 

58 

+ 

0 

+ 

+ 

Sucker-mouthed  minnow.  .  . 

2 

15 

78 

13 

17 

36 

1 

4 

8 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Long-nosed  dace 

1 

o 

0 

+ 

Black-nosed-dace  

1 

4 

1 

+ 

0 

+ 

Hybopsis  hyostomus  

2 

1 

+ 

+ 

0 

Spotted  shiner  

6 

3 

1 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Silver  chub 

2 

10 

37 

4 

2 

0 

+ 

+ 

Storer's  chub  

1 

7 

7 

5 

4 

4 

+ 

+ 

+ 

River  chub 

1 

12 

90 

8 

10 

16 

+ 

+ 

-j- 

Flat-headed  chub 

3 

0 

0 

+ 

Blue  cat  

1 

1 

2 

0 

-f 

+ 

Ictalurus  anguilla  

+ 

+ 

+ 

0 

+ 

+ 

Ixxxviii 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


INTERIOR  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES  BY  RIVER  SYSTEMS 
SPECIES  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS  OF  EACH — continued 


Districts 

Sections 

•8 

; 

1 

•2 

•c 

c 

§ 

"S 

8 

I 

> 

n 
P 

'5. 

IS 

^ 

1 

1 

1 

°o 

2 

•| 

§ 

1 

.1 

g 

,£3 

1 

,a 

o 

1 

H 

i 

1 

1 

o3 

bC 

m 

3 

1 

a 

1 

Channel-cat 

17 

108 

7 

17 

26 

2 

1 

2 

+ 

4- 

4- 

Great  Lake  catfish 

4- 

4. 

0 

0 

Yellow  bullhead  

3 

82 

10 

18 

3 

4 

6 

4- 

4- 

4- 

Common  bullhead  

42 

1 

1 

4 

4- 

Black  bullhead  

1 

11 

144 

19 

15 

35 

4 

6 

10 

+ 

+ 

Mud-cat  

4- 

3 

22 

2 

1 

2 

+ 

+ 

4- 

4- 

Stonecat  

2 

3 

32 

1 

1 

2 

+ 

+ 

4- 

0 

Tadpole  cat  

2 

132 

11 

14 

21 

3 

8 

5 

+ 

Freckled  stonecat  

5 

1 

2 

+ 

0 

+ 

4- 

Slender  stonecat  

1 

1 

2 

2 

4- 

+ 

4- 

Brindled  stonecat  

1 

1 

26 

5 

1 

0 

4- 

+ 

Mud-minnow  

8 

18 

1 

1 

4 

1 

1 

6 

4- 

4- 

4- 

Grass  pike  

5 

61 

1 

4 

11 

19 

7 

6 

9 

4- 

4- 

+ 

Pike  

2 

17 

1 

1 

1 

, 

4- 

0 

Muskallunge  

+ 

0 

0 

Menona  top-minnow  

11 

7 

+ 

4- 

4- 

0 

Striped  top-minnow  

1 

75 

1 

8 

5 

4- 

+ 

+ 

Common  top-minnow  

1 

6 

66 

6 

23 

58 

8 

17 

27 

4- 

+ 

+ 

Viviparous  top-minnow  .... 

1 

1 

4 

1 

2 

9 

0 

4- 

4- 

Chologaster  papilliferus  

6 

0 

0 

4- 

Brook  stickleback.... 

1 

2 

+ 

0 

0 

GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR  '  DISTRIBUTION 


Ixxxix 


rNTERiOR  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES  BY  RIVER  SYSTEMS 
SPECIES  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS  OF  EACH — continued 


Districts 

Sections 

J8 

1 

1 

0 

•g 

1 

1 

2 

^ 

0 

5 

03 

^ 

•c 

B 

$ 

J3 

rj 

'S< 

S 

73 

1 

" 

PH 

I 

'55 

3 

M 

Is 

5 

_ 

o 

& 

M 

.2 
o 

13 

'S 

Jj 

§ 

§ 

2 

fj 

1 

43 

"3 
O 

i 

s 

1 

1 

1 

1 

bO 
S 

I 

3 

o 
fc 

a 

1 

Nine-spined  stickleback 

1 

-j- 

o 

o 

Trout-perch 

14 

1 

-j- 

o 

Brook  silverside  

1 

6 

89 

2 

2 

1 

21 

+ 

Pirate-perch  

54 

9 

11 

7 

11 

9 

+ 

_l_ 

+ 

Pigmy  sunfish  

5 

1 

0 

0 

+ 

White  crappie 

2 

9 

119 

2 

13 

6 

14 

3 

3 

6 

, 

I 

-f 

Black  crappie 

8 

130 

3 

15 

8 

13 

3 

1 

Round  sunfish 

1 

1 

1 

2 

8 

o 

0 

Rock  bass  

4 

35 

1 

3 

2 

1 

1 

2 

+ 

Warmouth  

3 

83 

3 

5 

10 

6 

6 

11 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Green  sunfish  

2 

20 

158 

16 

33 

57 

7 

12 

15 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Lepomis  ischyrus  

1 

3 

• 

. 

0 

L.  symmelricus  

2 

3 

4 

0 

+ 

L  euryorus 

1 

0 

_l_ 

0 

24 

1 

2 

+ 

Long-eared  sunfish 

3 

37 

1 

27 

57 

7 

8 

16 

Orange-spotted  sunfish  .... 

5 

112 

22 

15 

23 

2 

3 

3 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Bluegill  

2 

7 

179 

1 

6 

3 

18 

1 

1 

6 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Eupomotis  heros 

5 

1 

0 

0 

_^_ 

Pumpkinseed  

4 

82 

4 

2 

1 

1 

+ 

Small-mouthed  black  bass  . 

16 

69 

5 

2 

8 

1 

3 

+ 

+ 

+ 

xc 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


INTERIOR  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES  BY  RIVER  SYSTEMS 
SPECIES  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS  OF  EACH — continued 


Districts 

Sections 

J3 
« 

1 

£ 
0 

-8 

a 

T3 

•fi 

i 
5 

1 

1 

« 

§ 
'ft 

oS 

I 

.g 
w 

1 

s 

1 

1 

1 

1 

| 

as 
C 

Q 

s 

1 

1 

JS 

o 

1 

H 

3 

1 

A 

1 

.SP 

1 

1 

I 

6 

1 

Large-mouthed  black  bass  .  . 

7 

135 

4 

13 

8 

33 

2 

4 

12 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Pike-perch  

3 

20 

1 

13 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Sauger  

1 

13 

3 

1 

+ 

+ 

0 

Yellow  perch  

, 

75 

3 

6 

-|- 

4. 

o 

Log-perch  

4 

35 

3 

5 

9 

8 

1 

2 

Hadropterus  evermanni  

3 

0 

+ 

0 

H  .  phoxocephaltis  

12 

58 

3 

10 

6 

2 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Black-sided  darter  :  . 

2 

15 

70 

1 

22 

42 

2 

7 

11 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Hadropteriis  ouachitee  

1 

0 

0 

+ 

H.  evides  

1 

, 

o 

o 

H  .  scierus  

1 

1 

0 

0 

Cottogaster  shumardi  

14 

2 

1 

0 

+ 

+ 

Green-sided  darter  

+ 

36 

0 

+ 

+ 

Johnny  darter  

3 

22 

100 

3 

10 

27 

58 

1 

6 

8 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Boleosoma  camurum  

1 

45 

2 

2 

12 

17 

7 

11 

10 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Crystallaria  asprella  

1 

3 

2 

1 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Sand  darter 

3 

7 

2 

16 

Banded  darter  

1 

11 

21 

1 

Blue-breasted  darter  

2 

6 

1 

1 

0 

+ 

0 

Elheostoma  iowce  

2 

4 

1 

1 

+ 

0 

+ 

E.  jessice  

4 

119 

5 

11 

14 

2 

1 

4 

+ 

+ 

+ 

GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 


INTERIOR  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES  BY  RIVER  SYSTEMS 
SPECIES  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS  OF  EACH — concluded 


Districts 

Sections 

1 
| 

1 

1 

| 

f_, 

S 

Q 

^ 

"C 

5 
J 

1 

1 

1 

| 

& 

I 

1 

1 

0> 

a 

Q 

g 

^ 

1 

^ 

03 

O 

1 

1 

1 

03 

1 

s 

1 

g 

o 
£ 

1 

1 

Rainbow  darter  

2 

9 

39 

1 

2 

29 

1 

4 

13 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Etheostoma  obeyerise  

1 

0 

0 

+ 

E.  squamiceps  

1 

1 

1 

7 

0 

+ 

+ 

Fan-tailed  darter  

1 

6 

11 

1 

1 

14 

3 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Boleichthys  fusiformis  

1 

13 

5 

18 

3 

8 

8 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Least  darter  

1 

10 

j 

+ 

0 

_l_ 

White  bass 

1 

2 

36 

2 

12 

1 

-f 

-L. 

Yellow  bass 

1 

95 

5 

-f 

-f 

Sheepshead  

1 

53 

13 

1 

1 

1 

+ 

Miller's  thumb  

5 

6 

+ 

+ 

+ 

Cottus  ricei  

+ 

+ 

0 

.0 

Uranidea  kumlienii  



+ 

+ 

0 

0 

Burbot  

3 

1 

+ 

+ 

0 

THE    ILLINOIS   BASIN   AND    THE    OTHER    DISTRICTS    COMPARED 

The  key  to  the  distribution  of  Illinois  fishes  within  the  state 
is  the  species  list  of  the  Illinois  basin.  Covering  fully  one  half 
the  area  of  Illinois,  and  extending  in  a  broad  belt  diagonally 
northeast  and  southwrest  across  its  northern  two  thirds,  this 
basin  contains  nearly  every  variety  of  stream,  lake,  pond,  and 
marsh  to  be  found  between  the  Great  Lakes  on  the  one  hand 
and  the  giant  flood  of  the  Mississippi  on  the  other,  and  it  is  to 
be  expected  that  its  fish  population  will  be  highly  typical  of 


XC11 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


Illinois  as  a  whole.  It  includes,  in  fact,  more  than  four  fifths 
of  the  species  on  our  Illinois  list,  and  the  special  features  of  the 
various  other  basins  and  areas  may  best  be  seen  by  comparing 
them  with  this  characteristic  central  basin  as  a  type. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  species  of  the  Illinois  system 
obtained  by  us  in  collections,  arranged  in  the  order  of  the 
frequency  of  their  appearance  in  1,115  collections  made  from 
that  stream  and  its  tributary  waters. 

SPECIES  OP  THE  ILLINOIS  BASIN,  AND  NUMBER  OP  COLLECTIONS 
CONTAINING  EACH 


Species 

Collections 

Species 

Collections* 

Golden  shiner  

183 

Common  red-horse  

90 

Bluegill    

179 

Gizzard-shad  

89 

Blunt-nosed  minnow  
Green  sunfish  

162 

158 

Brook  silverside  
Silvery  minnow  

89 
86 

Black  bullhead  ...    . 

144 

Warmouth  

83 

Redfin  (lutrensis)  . 

142 

Shiner  

82 

Large-mouthed  black  bass 

135 

Yellow  bullhead 

82 

Spot-tailed  minnow. 

133 

Pumpkinseed  .  . 

82 

Tadpole  cat  

132 

Notropis  heterodon 

81 

Black  crappie  
Etheostoma  jessice  . 

130 
119 

Sucker-mouthed  minnow  
Yellow  perch 

78 
75 

White  crappie  
Silverfin  

119 
116 

Striped  top-minnow  
Horned  dace 

75 

72 

Orange-spotted  sunfish  
Bullhead  minnow  

112 
110 

Black-sided  darter  
Common  sucker 

70 
69 

Straw-colored  minnow  
Channel-cat  

108 
108 

Small-mouthed  black  bass  
Blackfin 

69 
67 

Common  shiner  
Johnny  darter  

105 
100 

Bla!ck-head  minnow  
Common  top-minnow 

67 
66 

Stone-roller  

99 

Hogsucker  

61 

*A  cross  (+)  in  this  column  indicates  the  known  occurrence  of  a  species  which  is  not  repre- 
sented in  our  collections  from  the  Illinois  basin. 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 


XC111 


SPECIES  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  BASIN.  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS 
CONTAINING  EACH — continued 


Species 

Collections 

Species 

Collections 

Yellow  bass  
River  chub  
Blunt-nosed  carp  
Pirate-perch  
Sheepshead  
Short-nosed  gar  
Opsopceodus  emilice.    .  . 

95 
90 
54 
54 
53 
52 
49 

Grass  pike  
Hadropterus  phoxocephalus  
Pike  
Notropis  giiberli  
White-nosed  sucker  
Trout-perch  
Cottogaster  shumardi  

61 
58 
17 
15 
14 
14 
14 

Chub-sucker  
Small-mouth  buffalo  
Boleosoma  camurum  
Common  bullhead  
Quillback  carp 

48 
46 
45 
42 
39 

Striped  sucker  
Red-bellied  dace  
Sauger  
Boleichthys  fusiformis  
Silvery  lamprey 

13 
13 
13 
13 
12 

Rainbow  darter  
Short-headed  red-horse 

39 
39 

Menona  top-minnow  
Fan-tailed  darter  .    .  . 

11 
11 

Long-eared  sunfish  
White  bass 

37 
36 

River  carp  
Least  darter 

11 

10 

Rock  bass    .  . 

35 

Lake  carp  

10 

Log-perch 

35 

Paddle-fish  

8 

Stonecat 

32 

Toothed  herring  

8 

Notropis  cayuga 

29 

Notropis  rubrifrons  

8 

Red-mouth  buffalo 

28 

Storer's  chub  

7 

Dogfish 

27 

Sand  darter  

7 

Lepomis  miniatus  
Mud-cat 

24 
22 

Blue-breasted  darter  .  .  
Freckled  stonecat  

6 
5 

Notropis  jejunus 

21 

Miller's  thumb  

5 

21 

4 

Long-nosed  gar 

20 

Ericymba  buccata  

4 

Pike-perch  ...    . 

20 

Skipjack  

3 

XC1V 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


SPECIES  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  BASIN,  AND  NUMBER  OF  COLLECTIONS 
CONTAINING  EACH — concluded 


Species 

Collections 

Species 

Collections 

Mud-minnow  

18 

Spotted  shiner  

3 

Mongrel  buffalo  

17 

Lepomis  ischyrus  

3 

Hadropterus  evermanni  

3 

Brindled  stonecat  

1 

Burbot  

3 

Slender  stonecat  

1 

Notropis  phenacobius  

2 

Brook  stickleback  

1 

Silver  chub  

2 

Round  sunfish  

1 

Lepomis  symmetricus  

2 

Lepomis  euryorus  

1 

Notropis  anogenus  

2 

Hadropterus  scierus  

1 

N.  illecebrosus  

2 

Lake  sturgeon  

+ 

Viviparous  top-minnow  

1 

Shovel-nosed  sturgeon  

+ 

Mooneye   . 

1 

Alligator-gar  

-f 

Black-horse  

1 

Eel  

+ 

Plaoopharynx  duquesnei  

1 

Ictalurus  anguilla  

+ 

Notropis  pilsbryi  

1 

Muskallunge  

+ 

Hybopsis  hyostomus  

1 

Green-sided  darter  

+ 

Blue  cat  

1 

Of  the  twenty-three  Illinois  species  which  have  not  been 
taken  by  us  in  the  Illinois  River  or  its  tributaries,  two  are  dis- 
tinctively western  fishes,  and  occur  but  rarely  anywhere  within 
our  limits;  nine  are  southern  species,  few  of  which  have  been 
found  as  far  north  as  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois,  and  one  other  is 
only  southern  in  this  state ;  two  are  northern  species  which  barely 
reach  our  borders;  five  are  typical  fishes  of  the  Great  Lakes; 
one  has  been  found  by  us  only  in  the  main  Mississippi  and  the 
Ohio;  one  is  a  subterranean  fish  of  strictly  local  occurrence; 
and  the  two  remaining  species  are  very  rare  in  this  state. 

Further  particulars  as  to  the  species  of  these  various  geo- 
graphical groups  are  given  in  the  following  classified  list. 

ILLINOIS  SPECIES  N.OT  FOUND  IN  THE  ILLINOIS  BASIN 

WESTERN  (2):  NORTHERN   (2): 

Hybognathus  nubtta  Long-nosed  sucker 

Flat-headed  chub  Nine-spined  stickleback 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR    DISTRIBUTION  XCV 

SOUTHERN    (10):  MAIN    MISSISSIPPI  (1): 

Harelipped  sucker  White  sturgeon 

Pigmy  sunfish 

Round  sunfish  SUBTERRANEAN  (1): 

Eupomotis  heros  Chologaster  paptiliferus 

Hadropterus  ouachitce 

H.  evides  RARE  IN  ILLINOIS  (2) : 

Crystallaria  asprella  Brook  lamprey 

Etheostoma  obeyense  Long-nosed  dace 

E.  squamiceps 
•  Brindled  stonecat 

GREAT    LAKES  (5): 

Whitefish 
Lake  herring 
Lake  trout 
Cottus  ricei 
Uranidea  kumhenii 

As  the  Illinois  basin  contains  128  of  the  150  species  taken 
by  us  in  the  state,  it  is  evident  that  the  other  and  smaller  basins 
must  differ  from  this  negatively  rather  than  positively.  Being 
not  only  much  smaller,  but  also  much  less  complex  than  the 
Illinois  district,  and  offering  less  variety  of  situations  for  fishes 
as  homes  and  places  of  resort,  they  may  lack  many  species  which 
find  a  fit  environment  somewhere  in  the  Illinois  or  its  dependent 
waters,  but  can  contain  relatively  few  not  found  there  as  well. 

Regarded  from  this  standpoint,  the  Michigan  district  is 
farthest  removed  from  the  Illinois  ichthyologically,  and  of  its 
fifty-seven  species  nine  (16  per  cent.)  are  wanting  in  the  Illinois 
basin.  The  Cairo  district  differs  much  less,  eight  of  its  one 
hundred  and  one  fishes  being  without  representation  in  our 
collections  from  the  Illinois  system.  Next  follows  the  Wabash 
basin  in  Illinois,  with  ninety-five  species  and  a  difference  from 
the  Illinois  basin  of  6.1  per  cent.;  the  Galena  district,  with 
forty-four  species  and  a  difference  of  4.6  per  cent.;  the  Saline 
district,  with  fifty-five  species,  and  a  difference  of  3.8  per  cent.; 
and  the  Mississippi  and  its  marginal  area,  with  ninety-seven 
species,  3.2  per  cent,  of  which  are  wanting  to  the  Illinois  streams 
and  lakes.  The  Kaskaskia  and  the  Big  Muddy,  on  the  other 
hand,  which  are  scarcely  more  than  extensions  of  the  Illinois 
district  downward  to  the  southern  end  of  the  state,  contain 
virtually  no  fishes  not  in  the  main  district,  the  Kaskaskia  but 
one  out  of  sixty-nine  (1.4  per  cent.),  and  the  Big  Muddy  none 
out  of  forty-two  species.  The  Rock  River  district  differs  from 
the  Illinois  by  only  three  species  out  of  ninety-two  (3.2  per 
cent.).  -  These  data  are  presented  more  compactly  in  the  table 
following. 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 
DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN  THE  SMALLER  DISTRICTS  AND  THE  ILLINOIS  BASIN 


Species 

Districts 

Species 
in 
dis- 

not 
found 
in  Illi- 

Ratios 
of  differ- 

trict 

nois 

ence 

basin 

Illinois 

128 

57 

9 

.16 

Cairo  

101 

8 

.08 

Wabasb  ,  

95 

6 

.061 

Galena  

44 

2 

.046 

Saline 

55 

2 

038 

Mississippi  

97 

3 

'.032 

Rock  River  

92 

3 

.032 

Kaskaskia  

69 

1 

.014 

Big  Muddy  

42 

0 

.000 

Five  species  were  found  in  the  Illinois  system  and  not  in 
any  other — three  of  them  minnows  of  the  genus  Notropis 
(anogenus,  phenacobius,  and  pilsbryi),  one  of  them  a  sunfish 
(Lepomis  euryorus) ,  and  one  of  them  a  darter  (Hadropterus 
evermanni).  All  of  these  species  have  been  very  rare  in  our 
collections,  occurring  only  from  one  to  three  times  each,  and  it 
was  probable  that  they  would  be  found,  if  at  all,  where  the  largest 
number  of  collections  was  made. 

The  Galena  district  is  distinguished  from  the  Illinois  basin 
especially  by  the  presence  of  a  minnow  and  a  darter  (Hybog- 
nathus  nubila  and  Crystallaria  asprella),  the  latter  southern  in 
its  main  range,  and  the  former  western,  not  occurring,  indeed, 
farther  east  than  western  Illinois.  These  two  fishes  appear  in 
the  Rock  River  basin  also,  together  with  another  distinctively 
western  darter  (Hadropterus  evides).  In  the  Michigan  district, 
besides  the  five  lake  fishes  already  referred  to — the  whitefish, 
the  lake  herring,  the  lake  trout,  and  two  cottoids  or  miller's 
thumbs,  Cottus  ricei  and  Uranidea  kumlienii — are  the  brook 
lamprey,  the  long-nosed  sucker,  the  Great  Lake  catfish,  and  one 
of  the  sticklebacks  (Pygosteus  pungitius).  All  but  the  lamprey 
(which  is  rare  in  Illinois)  are  northern  species  not  taken  by  us 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION  XCV11 

in  the  Illinois  valley.  The  Mississippi  district  is  distinguishe 
from  the  Illinois  by  the  presence  of  the  rare  white  sturgeon 
(Parascaphirhynchus  albus),  hitherto  taken  only  in  the  Missis- 
sippi itself,  arid  by  a  southern  darter  and  a  western  minnow 
already  referred  to.  In  the  Kaskaskia  district  we  find  another 
southern  darter  (Etheostoma  squamiceps).  The  six  fishes  of  the 
Wabash  district  not  found  in  the  Illinois  or  its  tributaries,  are 
all  southern  species.  The  Big  Muddy  list  contains  no  species 
not  found  in  the  Illinois  basin;  and  the  Saline  River  district 
contains  two  southern  darters  (Etheostoma  squamiceps  and  E. 
obeyense).  And,  finally,  among  the  eight  species  by  which  the 
Cairo  district  differs  from  the  Illinois  are  three  southern  and 
two  western  species,  a  cave-fish,  and  two  species  of  general 
distribution  but  rare  in  Illinois  (Lampetra  wilderi  and  Rhinichthys 
cataractce) . 

Thus,  of  the  twenty- three  Illinois  fishes  not  found  by  us  in 
the  waters  of  the  Illinois  basin,  eight  are  distinctively  southern, 
six  are  purely  northern,  if  we  include  in  this  number  the  Great 
Lake  fishes,  four  are  western,  one  is  an  extremely  local  cave- 
fish,  and  four  are  so  rare  in  Illinois  that  their  appearance  in  any 
waters  is  a  matter  of  unusual  chance.  The  limitation  upon  the 
range  of  these  imperfectly  distributed  species  is  thus  climatic 
and  general,  and  not  geographic  or  local.  This  state  lies  on  the 
extreme  borders  of  their  proper  territory,  and  they  are  not  found 
more  commonly  in  our  waters  because  climatic  and  other  general 
conditions  most  favorable  to  their  maintenance,  here  reach  the 
vanishing  point. 

LISTS  OF  SPECIES  DISTINGUISHING  DIFFERENT  DISTRICTS  FROM  THE  ILLINOIS  BASIN 


GALEXA    DISTRICT  (2): 

Hybognathus  nubila  (Western) 
Crystallaria  asprella  (Southern) 

ROCK    RIVER   DISTRICT    (3): 

Hybognathus  nubila  (Western) 
Hadroplerus  evides  (Western) 
Crystallaria  asprella  (Southern) 

MICHIGAN   DISTRICT    (9): 

Brook  lamprey  (rare) 
Long-nosed  sucker  (Northern) 
Whitefiah  (Great  Lakes) 
Lake  herring  (Great  Lakes) 
Lake  trout  (Great  Lakes) 
Great  Lake  catfish  (Northern) 
Nine-spined  stickleback  (Northern) 
Coitus    icei  (Great  Lakes) 
Uranidea  kumlienii  (Great  Lakes) 
—7  P 


MISSISSIPPI   STRIP    (3): 

White  sturgeon  (rare;  Mississippi  only) 
Hybognathus  nubila  (Western) 
Crystallaria  asprella  (Southern) 

KASKASKIA   RIVER   DISTRICT    (1): 

Etheostoma  squamiceps  (Southern) 

WABASH    DISTRICT    (6): 

Harelipped  sucker  (rare;  Southern) 
Pigmy  sunfish  (Southern) 
Eupomotis  heros  (Southern) 
Hadropterus  ouachitce  (Southern) 
Crystallaria  asprella  ^Southern) 
Etheostoma  squamiceps  (Southern) 

SALINE    RIVER    DISTRICT    (2): 

Etheostoma  obeyense  (Southern) 
E.  squamiceps  (Southern) 


XCviii  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

CAIRO    DISTRICT    (8): 

Brook  lamprey  Chologaster  papttliferus  (subterranean) 

Hybognathus  nubtia  (Western)  Pigmy  sunfish  (Southern) 

Long-nosed  dace  (rare  in  Illinois)  Eupomotis  heros  (Southern) 

Flat-headed  chub  (Western)  Etheostoma  squamiceps  (Southern) 

RELATIONS    OF   EACH    DISTRICT   TO    ALL    THE    OTHERS 

In  the  foregoing  discussions  and  analyses  the  fishes  of  the 
various  districts  have  been  compared  with  those  of  the  largest 
and  most  central  district  as  a  type;  but  a  fuller  and  more  accurate 
idea  of  the  composition  of  the  fish  population  of  Illinois  and  of 
its  relations  in  the  various  hydrographic  divisions  of  the  state 
may  be  obtained  by  a  comparison  of  the  species  of  each  of  our 
ten  districts  successively  with  those  of  all  the  others.  This 
may  be  done  in  an  exact  and  uniform  manner  by  determining 
for  each  pair  of  districts  the  ratio  which  the  number  of  species 
common  to  the  pair  bears  to  the  whole  number  of  species  occur- 
ring within  the  area  of  both  the  districts  taken  together  as  one. 
In  the  Galena  district,  for  example,  there  are  44  species  recorded, 
and  in  the  Saline  River  basin  there  are  55,  a  total  of  99;  but  as 
26  of  these  species  have  been  found  in  both  these  districts,  this 
number  has  been  taken  twice  in  the  above  addition,  and  the 
number  of  species  found  by  us  in  the  entire  area  of  these  two 
districts  is  consequently  73.  The  ichthyological  affinity  of  these 
two  areas  is  evidently  to  be  measured  by  the  ratio  which  the 
number  of  species  common  tq  both  bears  to  the  whole  number 
of  species  found  in  either  or  both  the  areas — in  this  case,  the 
ratio  of  26  to  73,  or  36  per  cent.  That  is,  36  per  cent,  of  the 
fishes  found  in  either  of  these  two  districts  have  been  found  by 
us  in  both  of  them. 

A  similar  analysis  of  the  data  for  each  of  the  forty-five  pairs 
which  it  is  possible  to  make  up  from  our  ten  hydrographic  dis- 
tricts, yields  the  material  for  the  following  table  of  common 
species  and  of  ratios  of  affiliation.  This  table  shows,  in  the 
lower  left-hand  part,  the  number  of  species  common  to  each 
pair  of  districts,  and  in  the  upper  right-hand  part  the  ratios 
which  these  numbers  bear  to  the  number  of  species  occurring 
in  each  pair  of  districts  taken  as  one.  The  number  of  species 
common  to  any  two  districts  will  be  found  in  the  lower  left- 
hand  part  of  the  table,  where  the  column  for  one  district  inter- 
sects with  the  line  for  the  other,  and  the  ratio  of  affiliation  for 
the  same  pair  of  districts  will  be  found  in  the  opposite  part  of 
the  table  at  the  intersection  of  the  line  for  the  first  with  the 
column  for  the  second.  A  simple  inspection  of  the  figures  in  the 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 


XC1X 


latter  part  shows  at  once  which  districts  are  most  alike  and 
which  are  most  unlike  in  respect  to  their  fish  inhabitants.  Thus, 
the  Rock  and  Illinois  basins  and  the  Mississippi  are  the  most 
closely  related,  according  to  these  data,  with  affiliation  ratios 
of  68-72  per  cent,  and  an  average  of  70;  and  the  Michigan, 
Galena,  and  Big  Muddy  districts  are  the  least  alike,  with  ratios 
of  20-28  per  cent,  and  an  average  of  23.  The  two  highest 
single  ratios  of  ichthyological  affiliation  are  those  of  the  Illinois 
and  Mississippi  rivers  (.72)  and  of  the  Big  Muddy  and  Saline 
(.70). 

NUMBER  OF  SPECIES  COMMON  TO  EACH  PAIR  OF  DISTRICTS,  AND  RATIOS 

OF  SUCH  COMMON  NUMBERS  TO  THE  WHOLE  NUMBER 

OF  SPECIES  IN  EACH  PAIR 


Districts 

1 

1 

£ 

«' 

I 

f 

1 

1 

5 

S 

2. 

1 

O 

S 

,H 

J 

c8 

"cl 

bo 

^3 

'3 

S3 

O 

PH 

H 

S 

S 

w 

^ 

3 

00 

0 

<j 

"* 

eq 

eo 

* 

* 

CO 

^ 

06 

05 

0 

1.    Galena  

45 

32 

20 

41 

40 

38 

28 

36 

37 

.352 

2.     Rock  River  

42 

68 

35 

69 

59 

63 

40 

47 

62 

.542 

3.     Illinois  River  

42 

89 

35 

72 

53 

66 

33 

41 

68 

.52 

4.    Michigan  

17 

39 

48 

34 

25 

29 

22 

23 

32 

.283 

5.     Mississippi  

41 

77 

94 

39 

54 

61 

34 

42 

66 

.525 

6.    Kaskaskia  

32 

60 

68 

25 

58 

66 

52 

63 

53 

.517 

7.    Wabash  

38 

72 

89 

34 

73 

66 

41 

53 

68 

.534 

8.     Big  Muddy  

19 

38 

42 

18 

35 

38 

40 

70 

39 

.398 

9.     Saline  River  

26 

47 

53 

21 

45 

48 

52 

40 

49 

.471 

10.     Cairo  

39 

74 

93 

38 

79 

59 

76 

40 

51 

.521 

Total  species  

44 

92 

128 

57 

97 

69 

95 

42 

55 

101 

Number  of  collections  

13 

73 

1115 

20 

57 

41 

103 

10 

18 

95 

The  data  of  this  table  may  be  generalized  by  bringing  into 
comparison  the  average  of  the  ratios  of  affiliation  for  each  district 
with  those  for  all  the  rest,  as  shown  in  the  column  of  figures 
farthest  to  the  right.  If  the  ten  districts  are  arranged  in  the 
order  of  the  size  of  their  average  ratios,  they  readily  fall  into 


C  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

two  groups,  the  first  of  six  districts,  with  relatively  high  ratios, 
and  the  second  of  four,  with  relatively  low  ratios.  The  first 
group  comprises  the  basins  of  the  larger  rivers — the  Mississippi, 
the  Rock,  the  Illinois,  the  Kaskaskia,  the  Wabash,  and  the  Ohio, 
each  with  its  more  or  less  complex  system  of  tributaries.  The 
average  ratio  for  this  group  is  52.7  per  cent.  The  second  group 
is  made  up  of  small,  widely  separated  districts,  containing  only 
small  streams  and  lakes,  except  that  one  of  them  includes  a  little 
of  the  shallow  southwestern  border  of  Lake  Michigan.  In  this 
group  are  the  northwestern  driftless  area,  the  Saline  River  and 
its  tributaries,  the  Big  Muddy  district,  and  the  Michigan  district, 
with  an  average  affiliation  ratio  of  37.6. 

If  we  average  separately,  for  these  groups,  the  ratios  of 
each  district  to  all  the  other  districts  of  its  group,  we  obtain  for 
the  first  and  higher  group  a  ratio  of  mutual  affiliation  of  63  per 
cent.,  and  for  the  lower  group  a  similar  ratio  of  33  per  cent. 
It  is  thus  made  clear  that  the  districts  most  typical  of  our  Illinois 
fauna  are  the  first  six  above  mentioned,  while  those  most  indi- 
vidual and  peculiar — least  closely  affiliated  among  themselves 
and  each  with  all  the  others — are  the  Michigan,  the  Galena,  the 
Saline,  and  the  Big  Muddy  districts,  excepting  only  the  relation 
of  the  two  last  mentioned  which,  as  already  said,  is  unusually  close. 

THE    FISHES    OF    NORTHERN,    CENTRAL,    AND 
SOUTHERN    ILLINOIS 

If  mere  difference  in  latitude,  involving  a  climatic  difference 
within  a  range  of  five  and  a  half  degrees,  limits  the  distribution 
o£any  of  our  fishes,  the  fact  should  appear  upon  a  comparison  of 
the  species  list  of  the  northern,  central,  and  southern  sections  of 
the  state,  although  due  caution  must,  of  course,  be  exercised 
that  other  and  more  local  causes  are  not  confused  with  climatic 
ones.  The  division  of  the  state  here  adopted  is  shown  on  Map 
II.  of  the  accompanying  atlas. 

The  fishes  of  these  three  divisions  number  119  species  for 
northern,  123  for  central,  and  119  for  southern  Illinois,  respec- 
tively. Fourteen  species  have  been  found  by  us  only  in  the 
northern  division,  9  only  in  the  southern,  and  5  only  in  the  cen- 
tral, and  89  species  are  found  in  all  three  sections.  Twelve 
species  occur  in  both  northern  and  central  Illinois,  but  not  in 
southern,  17  in  both  southern  and  central  Illinois,  but  not  in 
northern,  and  4  in  both  the  northern  and  southern  divisions  of 
the  state,  but  not  in  the  central. 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 
FISHES  OF  LIMITED  DISTRIBUTION  IN  ILLINOIS 


Illinois  Distribution 


General  Distribution 


Hj.ecies  Peculiar  to  Northern  Illinois 

Whitefish 

Lake  herring 

Lake  trout 

Long--nosed  sucker 

Notropis  anogenus 

N.  phenacobius 

N.  pilsbryi 

Great  Lake  catfish 

Muskallunge 

Brook  stickleback 

Nine-spined  stickleback 

Hadropterus  evides 

Coitus  ricei 

Uranidea  kumlienii 
Species  Peculiar  to  Southern  Illinois 

Harelipped  sucker 

Long-nosed  dace 

Flat-headed  chub 

Chologaster  papilliferus 

Pigmy  sunfish 

Round  sunfish 

Eupomotis  heros 

Hadropterus  ouachitce 

Etheostoma  obeyense 

Species  in  Northern  and  Central  Illinois, 
but  not  in  Southern 

Lake  carp 


Great  Lakes 


Northern 


Southern 
Northern 


Rather  general 
Great  Lakes 


Southern 

General;  rare  in  Illinois 

Western 

Local;  cave 

Southern 


Northern 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 
FISHES  OF  LIMITED  DISTRIBUTION  IN  ILLINOIS — concluded 


Illinois  Distribution 


General  Distribution 


Nolropis  cayuga 

N.  rubrifrons 

Hybopsis  hyostomus 

Stonecat 

Pike 

Menona  top-minnow 

Trout-perch 

Lepomis  ischyrus 

Sauger 

YelJow  perch 

Burbot 

Species  in  Southern  and  Central  Illinois 
but  not  in  Northern 

Paddle-fish 

Shovel-nosed  sturgeon 
Alligator-gar 
Mooneye 
Black-horse 
Ericymba  buccata 
Silver  chub 
Blue  cat 

Ictalurus  anguilla 
Freckled  stonecat 
Brindled  stonecat 
Viviparous  top-minnow 
Lepomis  symmetricus 
Coltogaster  shumardi 
Green-sided  darter 
Etheostoma  squamiceps 


General 


Northern  and  southwestern 
Northern 


General 
Northern 
Great  Lakes 


General 

Southern 
Northern 
General 


Southern 


General 
Southern 


General 


Southern 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION  Clll 

An  examination  of  the  general  distribution  of  the  species  of 
these  sectional  lists  of  Illinois  fishes  shows,  as  was  to  have  been 
expected,  that  the  distinctively  northern  Illinois  fishes  are  chiefly 
northern  in  their  outside  range,  and  that  those  of  southern  Illinois 
are  mainly  southern.  Thus,  of  the  14  especially  northern  Illinois 
fishes,  11  are  northerly  in  their  general  distribution  *and  1  is 
southerly;  while  of  the  9  distinctively  southern  Illinois  species, 
6  are  southerly  in.  their  general  range,  1  is  western,  and  1  is  a 
cave-fish  local  to  Illinois.  The  species  found  in  the  northern 
and  central  sections  of  the  state  and  not  in  the  southern  are 
varied  in  their  distribution,  6  of  them  ranging  northward  from 
Illinois,  and  4  of  them  in  all  directions,  while  1  has  been  thus  far 
found  in  Illinois  only.  The  central  and  southern  fishes,  on  the 
other  hand,  comprise  7  southern  species,  1  of  northern  and  8  of 
general  range,  and  1  whose  distribution  is  not  recorded.  Includ- 
ing only  species  whose  general  area  shows  that  their  restricted 
occurrence  in  Illinois  is  a  feature  of  their  geographical  distribu- 
tion at  large,  and  excluding  fishes  special  to  the  Great  Lakes, 
we  have  twenty-six  species  whose  distribution  in  this  state  seems 
limited  by  conditions  connected  with  differences  in  latitude 
merely — twelve  of  these  species  essentially  northern  and  fourteen 
of  them  southern. 


ESPECIALLY  NORTHERN  SPECIES  IN 
ILLINOIS  (16): 

Whitefish 

Lake  herring 

Lake  trout 

Long-nosed  sucker 

Lake  carp 

Notropis  anogenus 

Great  Lake  catfish 

Mooneye 

Pike 

Muskallunge 

Menona  top-minnow 

Brook  stickleback 

Nine-spined  stickleback 

Trout-perch 

Coitus  ricei 

Uranidea  kumlienii 


ESPECIALLY  SOUTHERN  SPECIES  IN 
ILLINOIS  (14): 

Alligator-gar 
Blue  cat 

Ictalurus  anguilla 
Freckled  stonecat 
Harelipped  sucker 
Notropis  pilsbyri 
Viviparous  top-minnow 
Pigmy  sunfish 
Round  sunfish 
Lepomis  symmetricus 
Eupomotis  heros 
Hadropterus  ouachitce 
Eiheosioma 
E.  squamiceps 


USE    OF   LOCALITY   MAPS 


In  the  foregoing  discussion  of  the  sectional  distribution  of 
Illinois  fishes  no  account  has  been  taken  of  differences  in  the 
frequency  of  the  occurrence  of  the  species  in  the  different  sections 
in  which  they  have  been  found,  a  single  occurrence  in  southern 
Illinois,  for  example,  counting  for  as  much  as  fifty  such  occur- 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


rences  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  That  highly  interesting 
and  important  peculiarities  of  distribution  are  concealed  by  this 
gross  method  of  comparison  is  made  evident  by  an  examination 
of  the  maps  of  the  distribution  of  our  collections  of  the  various 
species  accompanying  this  report,  where  the  data  are  presented 
in  a  way  to  show,  not  the  number  of  collections,  it  is  true,  in 
which  each  species  was  represented,  but  the  number  and  dis- 
tribution of  localities  from  which  the  species  has  been  obtained. 
From  such  a  study  of  these  maps  it  appears  that  the  northern  half 
or  two  thirds  of  this  state  is  more  favorable  to  a  considerable 
number  of  species  than  the  southern  part,  since  these  species  have 
been  taken  there  in  a  much  larger  number  of  localities;  and  also 
that  a  small  group  of  species  of  wide  general  distribution  has  been 
found  by  us  with  surprising  frequency  in  the  Wabash  drainage 
in  this  state  as  compared  with  that  of  adjacent  districts. 

The  preference  of  certain  species  for  the  northern  part  of 
Illinois  over  the  southern  is  clearly  illustrated  by  the  distribution 
maps  of  the  following  fifteen  species :  Noturus  flavus  Carpiodes 
thompsoni,  Notropis  cayuga,  N.  hudsonius,  N.  rubrifrons,  Hybop- 
sis  dissimilis,  H.  kentuckiensis,  Fundulus  diaphanus,  Percopsis 
guttatus,  Eupomotis  gibbosus,  Stizostedion  canadense,  Perca 
flavescens,  Etheostoma  zonale,  Roccus  chrysops,  and  Morone  in- 
terrupta.  With  few  and  slight  exceptions,  all  the  species  of  this 
varied  list,  representing  eight  families  and  twelve  genera,  are 
so  definitely  lim'ted  to  the  northern  half  of  this  state  that  one 
gets  the  impression,  as  he  examines  these  maps  in  succession, 
that  some  invisible  barrier  to  their  southward  dispersal  exists  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  Sangamon  River. 

PECULIARITIES   OF   DISTRIBUTION   IN   THE    LOWER   ILLINOISAN 
GLACIATION 

That  the  distribution  of  these  more  northerly  species  is  not 
limited  by  the  watersheds  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  they  range 
across  the  state  indifferently  into  all  the  stream  systems  of 
northern  Illinois.  It  is  not  until  we  compare  with  our  distribu- 
tion maps  a  map  of  the  surface  geology  of  the  state  (Map  III.) 
that  we  find  a  plausible  explanation  of  a  part,  at  least,  of  this 
peculiar  distribution,  for  all  but  one  of  the  species  above  men- 
tioned are  wholly  excluded  from  the  area  of  this  glaciation,  and 
this  excepted  species  (Hybopsis  dissimilis')  appears  in  but  one 
locality  within  the  lower  glaciation,  and  that  a  short  distance 
within  its  border,  on  the  upper  Kaskaskia. 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION  CV 

Especially  significant  in  this  relation  are  several  cases  in 
which  species  of  this  list  range  southward  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  state  upon  the  upper  tributaries  of  the  Kaskaskia  and  the 
Embarras,  for  in  so  doing  they  simply  follow  southward  the 
course  of  the  Shelbyville  moraine  which  forms  the  boundary 
between  the  Wisconsin  and  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciations  in 
east-central  Illinois.  The  maps  for  Noturus  flavus,  Hybopsis 
dissimilis,  H.  kentuckiensis,  and  Stizostedion  canadense  are  ex- 
amples. 

That  this  coincidence  of  distribution  and  surface  geology 
points  to  a  true  explanation  is  further  shown  by  the  maps  for 
twenty-two  other  species  which  range  more  definitely  to  the 
southward  than  the  foregoing  twelve,  but  which  nevertheless 
avoid  the  southern  glaciation  more  or  less  completely  and  to  an 
unmistakable  degree.  For  example,  19  of  our  94  collection 
localities  for  the  hogsucker  (Catostomus  nigricans)  lie  below  the 
Springfield  parallel,  but  only  three  of  them  are  in  the  lower 
Illinoisan  glaciation,  and  these  are  barely  within  its  borders. 
Of  our  thirty  localities  for  the  short-headed  red-horse  (Moxostoma 
breviceps)  only  two  are  in  this  glaciation,  and  these  are  near  its 
boundaries  on  the  Embarras  and  the  Kaskaskia.  The  very 
abundant  minnow  Campostoma  anomalum  was  taken  by  us  from 
one  hundred  and  sixty  localities,  thirty-one  of  which  are  south 
of  the  Sangamon  and  eight  of  them  from  the  non-glaciated  area 
of  the  Cairo  district,  but  only  one  of  the  entire  number  is  within 
the  lower  glaciation,  and  that  is  on  the  upper  Kaskaskia  just 
across  the  limiting  moraine.  The  map  for  Notropis  cornutus 
shows  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  localities  from  which  collections 
of  this  species  were  made,  ninety  of  them  below  the  Sangamon 
and  twenty-nine  in  the  Cairo  district,  but  only  three  are  in  the 
southern  glaciation.  Other  species  testifying  to  the  same  effect 
will  be  found  in  the  following  list  of  fishes  absent  from  this 
characteristic  southern  Illinois  district. 

ILLINOIS  FISHES  RARE  OR  WANTING  IN  THE  LOWER  ILLINOISAN  GLACIATION 

Short-nosed  gar  N.  rubnfrons 

Common  bullhead  Spotted  shiner 

Stonecat  Storer's  chub 

Lake  carp  River  chub 

Quillback  carp  Pike 

Common  sucker  Menona  top-minnow 

Hogsucker  Trout-perch 

Short-headed  red-horse  Pumpkinseed 

Stone-roller  Small-mouthed  black  bass 

Red-bellied  dace  Sauger 


Cvi  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

Nolropis  cayuga  Yellow  perch 

N.  heterodon  Banded  darter 

Straw-colored  minnow  Rainbow  darter 

Notropis  gilberti  Fan-tailed  darter 

Spot-tailed  minnow  White  bass 

Common  shiner  Yellow  bass 

Notropis  jejunus  Miller's  thumb 

FISHES  TOLERANT  OF  THE  LOWER  ILLINOISAN  GLACIATIO 

Dogfish  Silver  chub 

Channel-cat  Grass  pike 

Yellow  bullhead  Common  top-minnow 

Black  bullhead  Viviparous  top-minnow 

Mud-cat  Pirate-perch 

Tadpole  cat  White  crappie 

Brindled  stonecat  Round  sunfish 

Chub-sucker  Warmouth 

Striped  sucker  Green  sunfish 

Silvery  minnow  Long-eared  sunfish 

Blunt-nosed  minnow  Orange-spotted  sunfish 

Opsopceodus  emilice  Large-mouthed  black  bass 

Golden  shiner  Black-sided  darter 

Bullhead  minnow  Boleosoma  camurum 

Silverfin  Sand  darter 

Shiner  Etheostoma  jessice 

Blackfin  Boleichthys  fusiformis 
Ericymba  buccata 

Among  the  ninety-eight  Illinois  species  for  which  distribu- 
tion maps  have  been  prepared,  thirty-four  belong  clearly  to  this 
group  of  fishes  which  seem  to  avoid  the  conditions  common  to 
the  flat  gray  lands  of  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  Thirty-five 
species,  on  the  other  hand,  are  distributed  over  this  glaciation  in 
a  way  to  indicate  a  tolerance  of  its  conditions  if  not  an  indiffer- 
ence to  them,  the  data  concerning  the  remainng  twenty-nine 
species  being  ambiguous  or  indecisive  in  this  respect. 

Two  facts  concerning  the  soil  and  waters  of  the  lower  Illi- 
noisan  glaciation  may  be  held  to  account,  at  least  in  part,  for 
the  failure  of  certain  species  of  fishes  to  thrive  in  its  streams. 
Compared  with  the  other  regions  of  the  state,  this  oldest  of  our 
glaciation  areas  has  developed  its  drainage  system  to  a  point 
such  that  the  rainfall  runs  off  rapidly  in  a  large  number  of  small 
streams,  leaving  no  marshes  or  ponds  to  hold  back  the  waters 
during  periods  of  dry  weather.  It  is  a  level  country  whose 
streams  fill  up  quickly  and  run  down  rapidly,  the  smaller  ones 
drying  up  completely  during  the  midsummer  drought,  which  is 
here  more  marked  than  farther  north.  These  variable  and  tem- 
porary creeks  are,  of  course,  less  favorable  to  the  maintenance  of 
a  varied  and  permanent  fish  population  than  the  waters  of  the 
earlier  Illinoisan  or  the  Wisconsin  areas. 


GEXEEAL   AND   IXTEEIOR   DISTRIBUTION  CV11 

As  a  further  consequence  of  its  geological  antiquity,  involv- 
ing degenerative  chemical  changes  and  a  long-continued  leach- 
ing, the  soil  of  this  lower  glaciation  has  become  an  extremely 
fine-grained,  light-colored  clay  which,  when  compact,  sheds  water 
almost  completely,  but  which  washes  into  the  streams  as  a  fine 
detritus  that  remains  persistently  in  suspension  and  renders  the 
waters  very  urbid  for  a  long  time  after  a  rain.  Standing  pools, 
indeed,  never  become  even  approximately  clear.  So  persistent 
is  this  turbidity,  due  to  very  finely  divided  matter  in  suspension, 
that  the  chemists  of  the  Water  Survey  find  it  almost  impossible 
to  free  the  water  wholly  from  suspended  solids  even  by  repeated 
filtration.  Furthermore,  this  soil  has  a  definitely  acid  reaction, 
to  which  is  due  a  notable  physical  difference  between  the  soils 
of  this  area  and  those  of  the  later  glaciations  west  and  north  of  it. 
A  surplus  of  lime  in  a  soil  coagulates  or  granulates  it,  causing  its 
ultimate  particles  to  cohere  in  larger  granules,  while  in  an  acid 
soil  this  effect  is  entirely  wanting.  This  lack  of  granulation  in  a 
very  finely  divided  soil  increases,  of  course,  the  permanent 
muddiness  of  its  waters  as  compared  with  those  of  the  areas  in 
which  lime  in  the  soil  renders  it  alkaline. 

The  acidity  of  this  southern  soil  seems  not  to  be  of  a  kind  or 
amount  to  affect  the  surface  wraters  sensibty  and  directly,  since 
the  water  samples  from  this  region  analyzed  by  the  State  Water 
Survey  show  a  soft  water,  slightly  alkaline,  and  chemically  un- 
objectionable as  a  medium  for  fishes. 

CLASSIFICATION   AND   USE   OF   ECOLOGICAL   DATA 

That  these  conditions  are  a  part,  at  least,  of  the  cause  of  the 
phenomenal  distribution  of  southern  Illinois  fishes  may  be  shown 
by  a  comparison  of  our  ecological  data  for  the  fishes  of  the  two 
lists — one  composed  of  those  adapted  to  the  conditions  of  the 
lower  Illinoisan  glaciation  and  the  other  of  those  avoiding  them. 
In  the  organization  of  the  data  of  our  collections  of  Illinois  fishes, 
those  concerning  the  character  of  the  water  body  in  which  collec- 
tions were  made  were  classified  in  a  way  to  show  the  number  of 
collections  of  each  species  taken  from  each  class  of  situation. 
By  reducing  these  numbers  to  ratios  of  frequency  of  occurrence, 
we  have  a  means  of  exhibiting  the  preference  of  species  with 
respect  to  the  situations  in  which  each  occurs.  Pimephales 
notatus,  for  example,  was  found  twenty  times  over  a  muddy 
bottom  to  thirty-four  over  a  bottom  of  mud  and  sand,  and  to 
forty-six  over  a  bottom  of  rock  and  sand.  Aphredoderus 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


say  anus,  on  the  other  hand,  was  found  sixty-two  t  mes  on  a 
muddy  bottom  to  nineteen  times  in  each  of  the  other  situations. 

By  tabulating  data  of  this  description  separately  for  each  of 
the  two  lists  of  species  referred  to— thirty-four  species  in  the  one 
list  and  thirty-five  in  the  other — and  averaging  the  ratios  for 
each  group  separately,  significant  evidence  was  obtained  of  the 
factors  which  affect  the  distribution  of  these  fishes. 

The  species  which  distribute  themselves  freely  over  southern 
Illinois  are  those  which  are  generally  tolerant  of  turbid  waters, 
as  shown  by  the  fact  that  32  per  cent,  of  all  our  collections  of 
this  group  came  from  muddy  streams  and  ponds,  34  per  cent, 
from  situations  where  the  bottom  was  composed  largely  of  rock 
and  sand,  and  24  per  cent,  from  a  bottom  of  sand  and  mud. 
The  species  avoiding  the  central  area  of  southern  Illinois,  on 
the  other  hand,  are,  as  .a  rule,  intolerant  of  muddy  waters,  only 
10  per  cent,  of  all  our  data-bearing  collections  of  this  group 
coming  from  such  situations,  while  61  per  cent,  of  them  were 
from  bottoms  of  rock  and  sand,  and  29  per  cent,  from  those  of 
sand  and  mud.  It  is  consequently  clear  that  the  suspended 
detritus  of  the  streams  of  southern  Illinois  and  the  clay  and  mud 
of  which  their  banks  and  bottoms  are  commonly  composed,  are 
an  important  part,  at  least,  of  the  cause  of  the  smaller  variety  of 
fishes  in  these  waters;  and  these  conditions  trace  back  through 
the  character  of  the  soil  to  the  geological  history  of  the  central 
part  of  southern  Illinois. 

FISHES   OF   THE   OHIO   AND    OF   THE    MISSISSIPPI   DRAINAGE 

A  comparison  and  classification  of  our  distribution  maps 
from  another  point  of  view  enables  us  further  to  distinguish  two 
rather  definite  groups  of  species  coincident  in  great  measure, 
but  not  wholly  so,  with  the  two  groups  which  we  have  found  in 
an  opposite  relation  to  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation.  No  less 
than  27  of  our  species  have  either  an  exclusive,  or  at  least  a 
strongly  preponderant,  distribution  in  the  Mississippi  drainage 
in  the  western  and  northern  parts  of  the  state,  while  8  species, 
on  the  other  hand,  are  very  definitely  preponderant  in  the  Ohio 
drainage  in  the  southern  and  eastern  parts.  Nineteen  of  the  27 
species  of  the  first  list  are  also  on  the  list  of  species  excluded  from 
the  region  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  while  6  of  the  8 
species  of  the  second  list  are  also  on  that  of  species  distributed 
freely  through  this  southern  Illinois  district.  We  have  evidence 
here  of  another  influence  strongly  affecting  distribution,  coin- 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR    DISTRIBUTION  C1X 

cident  in  part  with  that  already  discussed,  but  independent  of 
it  also  in  part,  the  two  causes,  or  sets  of  causes,  operating  to- 
gether to  determine  the  actual  range  of  most  of  the  species  of 
limited  distribution  in  this  state. 

The  impression  produced  by  an  examination  of  the  two  sets 
of  maps  for  the  fishes  above  mentioned,  is  that  of  a  small  group 
of  species,  on  the  one  hand,  which  enter  the  state  from  the  south 
and  east  by  way  of  the  Wabash  and  the  smaller  tributaries  of 
the  Ohio,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  of  a  much  larger  group,  most 
of  which  have  entered  the  state  from  the  west  and  north,  making 
their  way  to  its  interior  mainly  by  the  Illinois  and  the  Rock,  but 
sometimes  by  the  Kaskaskia  and  the  Big  Muddy  also.  Species 
of  the  Ohio  group  sometimes  seem  to  spread  into  the  headwaters 
of  adjacent  streams,  especially  into  the  branches  of  the  Kaskaskia 
where  these  come  nearest  to  the  Embarras,  and  into  those  of  the 
Big  Vermilion  of  the  Illinois  which  are  nearest  to  the  Little 
Vermilion  of  the  Wabash.  Some  species,  however,  remain  care- 
fully within  the  tributaries  of  the  Wabash  system. 

It  seems  possible  that  this  appearance  of  an  approach  to 
the  state  and  entrance  upon  its  territory  from  opposite  directions 
is  not  altogether  deceptive,  and  that  the  annual  movements  of 
the  fishes  of  the  state,  up  the  streams  at  the  time  of  the  spring 
floods,  downwards  with  the  recession  of  the  waters,  and  still 
farther  downwards,  for  many  species,  into  deeper  water  in  the 
winter,  may  take  these  two  contingents  of  our  fish  population 
in  opposite  directions,  from  and  towards  local  centers  of  popula- 
tion for  the  species,  situated  on  opposite  sides  of  the  state. 
Whether  and  where  such  local  centers  of  population  actually 
exist,  is  a  question  which  can  not  be  answered  definitely  for 
lack  of  numerical  or  statistical  data  in  the  faunal  lists  and  other 
literature  of  geographical  distribution  for  the  surrounding  states. 
If  they  exist,  the  Wabash  fishes  would  constitute  one  such  sys- 
tem, and  those  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  another. 

If  we  may  speculate  still  further  upon  this  subject,  we  may 
perhaps  surmise  that  a  general  critical  analysis  of  the  fish  popu- 
lation of  the  larger  area  of  which  Illinois  forms  the  central  part, 
would  enable  us  to  distinguish  fairly  well-defined  districts,  each 
with  its  characteristic  assemblage  of  prevalent  species,  so  asso- 
ciated and  ecologically  related  as  to  form  a  balanced  assemblage 
of  species,  all  so  adjusted  to  each  other  and  so  advantageously 
placed  in  their  environment  as  to  constitute  a  closed  system, 


ex  FISHES  or  ILLINOIS 

which  the  characteristic  species  of  adja'cent  areas  can  not  enter, 
or  in  which  they  can  not  permanently  remain. 

DSTRIBUTION    CHIEFLY    IN   THE    OHIO    DRAINAGE 

Brindled  stonecat  Pirate-perch 

Green-sided  darter  Notropis  illecebrosus 

Boleichthys  fusiformis  Ericymba  buccata 

Chub-sucker  Long-eared  sunfish 

DISTRIBUTION  CHIEFLY  IN  THE  MISSSSIPPI  DRAINAGE 

Short-nosed  gar  White  bass 

Stonecat  Yellow  bass 

Lake  carp  Common  bullhead 

Notropis  cayuga  Short-headed  red-horse 

Spot-tailed  minnow  Red-bellied  dace 

Notropis  rubrifrons  Notropis  gilberti 

Spotted  shiner  Long-nosed  gar 

Pike  Dogfish 

Menona  top-minnow  Mongrel  buffalo 

Trout-perch  Black-head  minnow 

Pumpkinseed  Hybognathus  nubUa 

Sauger  Redfin 

Yellow  perch  Rock  bass 
Banded  darter 

BOUNDARY  BETWEEN  NORTHERN  AND  SOUTHERN  SPECIES 

Recurring  next  to  the  distinction  made  on  another  page 
(ciii)  between  northern  and  southern  fishes  whose  areas  ex- 
tend into  IH'nois  but  not  beyond,  and  comparing  the  distribution 
of  these  groups  within  the  state,  as  given  on  Map  CIII.,  we  see 
that  northern  and  southern  species  meet  and  mingle  in  the 
western  part  of  the  state  from  Meredosia  to  Pekin  on  the  Illinois, 
and  from  Quincy  to  Dallas  City  on  the  Mississippi,  but  that  in 
eastern  Illinois  they  are  separated  by  a  wide  interval  extending 
from  Cook  county  to  the  mouth  of  the  Embarras,  in  which 
interval  we  have  never  taken  any  representative  of  either  group. 

The  distinctively  southern  species,  although  most  abundant 
south  of  the  line  28°  "30",  nevertheless  go  up  the  Waba  h  to  the 
Embarras,  up  the  Kaskaskia  to  Shelby  county,  up  the  Mississippi 
to  Henderson  county,  and  up  the  Illinois  to  Pekin,  also  following 
the  branches  of  the  Sangamon  to  Logan  county.  The  northern 
species,  on  the  other  hand,  although  most  abundant  above 
40°  20",  come  down  the  Illinois  to  Meredosia,  and  down  the 
Mississippi  to  Quincy. 

The  boundary  between  the  northern  and  southern  species 
thus  appears  as  a  broad  belt  some  fifty  miles  in  width,  extending 
two  thirds  of  the  way  across  the  state  just  about  its  center,  but 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOK   DISTRIBUTION  CXI 

widening  to  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  mi  es 
on  the  eastern  boundary. 

GENERAL    FEATURES    OF   ECOLOGICAL    DISTRIBUTION 

In  addition  to  the  general  distribution  of  Illinois  fishes  over 
the  North  American  continent,  their  general  or  partial  distribu- 
tion within  the  state,  and  the  unevenness  of  their  distribution 
over  the  different  divisions  of  the  state,  hydrographic,  climatic, 
and  geological,  there  are  also  recognizable  differences  and  in- 
equalities of  distribution  corresponding  to  the  size  of  the  water 
bodies  in  which  the  species  are  found,  to  the  nature  of  the 
bottom  and  the  consequent  clearness  and  purity  of  the  waters, 
and  to  the  existence  and  rate  of  current  or  flow  in  the  waters 
inhabited  by  them.  In  this  class  of  divisions,  geological  dis- 
tribution merges  into  ecological  relation,  the  distribution  of 
species  being  no  longer  by  geological  areas,  but  by  ecological 
situations.  In  this  sense  two  species  may  occupy  precisely  the 
same  territory  without  ever  coming  into  any  effective  contact 
with  each  other,  because  they  are  differently  related  to  certain 
features  of  their  environment. 

As  an  explanation  of  the  more  general  facts  of  distribution 
requires  an  analysis  and  interpretation  of  continental,  terrestrial, 
and  even  cosmic  agencies  affecting  it,  so  an  understanding  of 
what  we  may  call  the  ecological  distribution  of  a  species,  requires 
a  corresponding  analysis  of  the  ecological  features  of  the  region. 
Such  an  analysis  can  here  be  carried  but  a  little  way,  since  the 
ecological  data  borne  by  our  collections' are  only  of  a  very  general 
type;  but  such  as  they  are,  they  may,  if  used  with  discretion,  add 
definiteness  and  detail  and  some  degree  of  statistical  precision 
to  our  knowledge  of  this  part  of  the  subject 

The  attention  of  the  reader  is  called  especially  to  the  in- 
teresting manner  in  which  our  statistics  of  associate  occurrence 
exhibit  the  frequent  tendency  of  closely  allied  species  inhabiting 
the  same  territory  to  avoid  each  other's  company,  and  thus  to 
evade  competition  with  one  another,  by  the  choice  of  different 
haunts  and  situations  within  the  area  of  their  common  habita- 
tion. In  .consequence  of  this  tendency,  we  sometimes  find  widely 
unlike  species  more  closely  and  commonly  associated  in  our 
collections  than  like,  the  ecological  repulsion  of  each  for  its 
similars  bringing  dissimilars  together  in  more  or  less  definite 
associate  groups.  Apparent  examples  of  this  reaction  may  be 
found  in  the  body  of  this  report  in  the  discussion  of  the  suckers, 


Cxii  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

the  minnows,  the  catfishes  (especially  the  bullheads),  the  top- 
minnows,  and  the  sunfishes. 

Ninety-seven  of  our  species  have  been  collected  in  large 
enough  numbers,  and  from  a  sufficient  variety  of  locations,  to 
give  us  data  for  comparison  with  reference  to  the  general  charac- 
ter and  size  of  the  water  bodies  which  they  prefer;  62  species 
furnish  available  data  concerning  the  bottom  or  substratum  of 
these  water  bodies;  and  49  species,  data  concerning  current  and 
rate  of  flow.  The  numbers  of  collections  for  the  various  species 
covered  by  these  figures  vary  greatly  from  a  minimum  of  10 
collections  of  a  species  to  a  maximum  of  376.  Unfortunately, 
the  larger  and  more  important  fishes  are  commonly  represented 
by  the  smaller  numbers  of  collections,  and  statements  made 
concerning  these  are  less  likely  to  be  found  fairly  accurate  and 
generally  correct  than  are  those  concerning  the  smaller  fishes, 
represented  by  larger  numbers  of  collections. 

One  available  set  of  our  data  may  best  be  presented  in 
tabular  form,  for  such  use  as  the  student  may  wish  to  make  of 
them;  and  to  this  table  we  add,  as  an  illustration  of  its  use,  only 
a  few  statements  concerning  the  more  conspicuous  ecological 
groups  of  our  Illinois  fishes. 

By  assorting  the  species  according  to  the  size  of  the  ratios 
of  frequency  of  occurrence  for  each  class  of  situations  distin- 
guished in  this  table,  we  may  separate  those  strongly  preferring 
the  given  situation  from  those  apparently  avoiding  it.  In  this 
way  we  learn  that  the  species  occurring  in  our  collections  with 
disproportionate  frequency  in  the  larger  rivers  of  the  state  are 
the  mud-cat  (Leptops  olivaris),  one  of  the  river  carp  (carpio), 
the  toothed  herring  (Hiodon  tergisus),  and  the  sheepshead 
(Aplodinotus) ,  among  the  larger  fishes;  and  a  small  darter 
(Cottogaster  shumardi),  the  trout-perch  (Percopsis  guttatus},  and 
a  minnow  (Hybopsis  dissimilis)  among  the  smaller  fishes. 

The  principal  larger  fishes  of  the  smaller  rivers  make  a  much 
longer  list,  comprising  the  hogsucker,  two  of  the  native  carp 
(velifer  and  difformis) ,  a  species  of  red-horse  (aureolum) ,  the  rock 
bass,  and  the  small-mouthed  black  bass;  and  the  principal 
smaller  species  are  six  darters  (Etheostoma  zonale,  Hadropterus 
phoxocephalus,  H.  aspro,  Diplesion  blennioides,  Etheostoma  cceru- 
leum,  and  Ammocrypta  pellucida),  a  stonecat  (Noturus  flavus), 
and  Hybopsis  kentuckiensis,  and  four  other  minnows,  all  of  the 
genus  Notropis  (rubrifrons,  gilberti,  blennius,  and  cornutus}— 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR    DISTRIBUTION  CXUl 

their  ratios  running  from  70  per  cent,  for  rubrifrons  to  41  per 
cent,  for  cornutus. 

The  species  of  our  list  which  have  from  50  to  100  per  cent,  of 
their  representatives  in  creeks,  as  illustrated  by  our  collections, 
include  three  sunfishes  (the  green  sunfish,  the  round  sunfish,  and 
the  long-eared  sunfish),  three  suckers  (the  common  sucker,  the 
chub-sucker,  and  the  striped  sucker),  four  darters,  ten  minnows, 
and  the  brindled  stonecat. 

The  larger  species  found  most  abundantly  in  lakes,  ponds, 
and  other  stagnant  waters  were  the  common  bullhead,  the 
buffaloes,  the  yellow  perch,  the  white  bass,  the  yellow  bass,  the 
large-mouthed  black  bass,  and  five  sunfishes  (both  crappies,  the 
warmouth,  the  pumpkinseed,  and  the  bluegill) ;  and  the  smaller 
kinds  were  the  smallest  of  our  fishes  (Microperca  punctulata), 
another  darter  (Boleichthys  fusiformis) ,  two  minnows  (Notropis 
cayuga  and  N.  heterodori),  the  mud-minnow,  and  a  killifish 
(Fundulus  dispar). 

Turning  next  to  the  62  species  for  which  our  data  of  pref- 
erence or  avoidance  of  a  muddy  bottom  are  available,  we  find 
7  species  whose  ratios  of  frequency  of  occurrence  in  such  situa- 
tions range  from  43  to  88  per  cent.,  and  which  may  consequently 
be  called  limophagous  fishes.  These  are  the  warmouth  sunfish, 
the  black  and  the  yellow  bullheads,  the  pirate-perch,  a  single 
darter  (Boleosoma  camurum),  and  two  minnows,  the  golden 
shiner  and  the  common  shiner  (Notropis  cornutus) . 

It  is  interesting  to  find,  by  an  examination  of  our  maps, 
that  all  these  7  species  are  freely  distributed  over  the  lower 
Illinoisan  glaciation  of  the  southern  part  of  the  state,  where,  as 
we  have  already  shown,  only  fishes  indifferent  to  a  peculiarly 
persistent  turbidity  of  the  water  are  likely  to  occur. 

By  selecting  from  this  same  list  of  62  species  those  with  the 
lowest  ratios  of  frequency  over  a  muddy  bottom,  we  get  13  species 
(with  ratios  of  4  to  10  per  cent.)  which  evidently  avoid  such 
situations;  and  these,  again,  are  without  exception  so  distributed 
that  the  area  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation  is  almost  never 
entered  by  them.  These  are  one  of  the  native  carp  (velifer),  a 
species  of  red-horse  (aureolum),  the  small-mouthed  black  bass, 
two  darters  (Hadropterus  phoxocephalus  and  Etheostoma  coeru- 
leum) ,  five  minnows  (Campostoma  anomalum,  Notropis  heterodon, 
Ericymba  buccata,  Hybopsis  kentuckiensis,  and  Notropis  blennius), 
two  stonecats,  and  the  little  brook  silverside  (Labidesthes) . 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


A  more  precise  statement  and  a  fuller  discussion  of  the 
ecological  relations  of  our  fishes,  including  statistics  of  com- 
panionship for  the  various  species,  as  shown  by  the  frequency 
of  their  joint  occurrence  in  collections,  must  be  left  for  later 
contributions. 

Attention  may  be  profitably  called,  in  conclusion,  to  the 
economic  significance  of  the  details  of  distribution  of  the  various 
species,  as  influenced  both  by  geographical  and  ecological  con- 
ditions, since  a  proper  understanding  and  application  of  these 
facts  will  prevent  wasteful  efforts  to  introduce  species  where 
they  do  not  belong  and  can  not  thrive.  Indeed,  the  more  de- 
tailed our  knowledge  of  favorable,  and  even  optimum,  conditions 
for  the  different  species,  and  the  more  exact,  also,  our  acquain- 
tance with  the  relations  of  each  species  of  fish  to  its  companion 
species  in  any  associate  assemblage,  the  more  intelligent,  and 
hence  the  more  successful,  in  the  long  run,  will  be  our  efforts  to 
extend  the  range  and  multiply  the  numbers  of  the  more  useful 
species  and  to  lessen  the  numbers  of  those  especially  injurious. 

ECOLOGICAL  TABLE 

ALL   ILLINOIS   SPECIES   WITH    AT   LEAST   TEN   AVAILABLE    RECORDS   E^CH* 


Water  (97  species) 

Current  (49  species) 

Bottom  (62  species) 

8 

£ 

1 

4* 

Species 

o 

| 

1 

1 

I 

| 

W      i 

1 

£ 

E 

,*" 

I 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

•a 

c 

| 

^ 

0} 

3 

'f 

s 

co 

a 

J2 

3 

I 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

'3 

5 

1 

a 

1 

rf 

1 

£ 

if. 
it 
_3 

'5 

T3 

? 

1 

a 

** 

* 

H? 

£ 

o 

j 

<j 

02 

53 

^ 

^ 

^ 

PH 

S 

151 

Long-nosed  gar  

35 

25 

10 

7 

22 

•  •  •  < 

152 

Short-nosed  gar  

57 

28 

24 

4 

25 

155 

Dogfish  ,. 

37 

18 

7 

6 

30 

207 

Channel-cat  

171 

20 

32 

27 

8 

31 

68 

19 

13 

75 

21 

44 

35 

*The  figures  of  thie  table,  except  those  in  the  columns  for  available  collections,  are  ratios 
of  frequency  of  the  species  in  our  collections,  computed  with  due  reference  to  the  comparative 
numbers  of  collections  of  all  kinds  made  in  each  situation. 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR    DISTRIBUTION 


CXV 


ECOLOGICAL  TABLE— continued 

ALL   ILLINOIS   SPECIES   WITH    AT   LEAST   TEN   AVAILABLE    RECORDS   EACH 


8 

Water  (97  species) 

Current  (49  species) 

Bottom  (62  species) 

a 

03 

s 

•o 

Species 

Available  collections 

•£ 

1 

Smaller  rivers 

1 

0 

Lakes,  ponds,  etc. 

Available  collections 

Swift  to  moderate 

Sluggish  to  stagnant 

1 

Available  collections 

•g 

Rock  and  sand 

Mud  and  sand 

215 

Yellow  bullhead.  ........ 

122 

7 

6 

37 

23 

14 

36 

43 

21 

35 

43 

34 

23 

217 

Common  bullhead  

48 

15 

5 

4 

44 

218 

Black  bullhead  

244 

8 

21 

37 

26 

38 

37 

53 

10 

56 

54 

46 

221 
222 

Mud-cat  
Stonecat  

30 

41 

53 

10 

21 
63 

5 
34 

8 

58 

34 

15 

60 

13 

26 

24 

8 

223 

Tadpole  cat  

193 

17 

5 

23 

41 

21 

48 

43 

9 

45 

29 

27 

44 

231 

Brindled  stonecat  

30 

3 

36 

(30 

..... 

13 

8 

62 

30 

261 

Red-mouth  buffalo  

39 

13 

9 

48 

262 

Mongrel  buffalo  

19 

17 

7 

45 

264 

Small-mouth  buffalo  

52 

14 

12 

4 

49 

265 

River  carp  

15 

47 

8 

10 

266 
268 
289 

Blunt-nosed  carp  
Quillback  carp  . 

102 
70 
132 

9 
10 

3 

42 
50 
19 

30 
19 
71 

12 
5 

1 

16 
19 
49 

47 
39 

25 
32 
47 

25 
21 
14 

47 
28 
79 

21 
4 
13 

36 
60 
44 

43 

36 
43 

Common  sucker  

294 

Hogsucker  

99 

4 

63 

25 

4 

71 

20 

63 

17 

59 

54 

46 

302a 

Chub-sucker  

131 

9 

12 

57 

14 

23 

52 

48 

57 

32 

39 

29 

303 
305 
314 

Striped  sucker  
White-nosed  sucker  
Common  red-horse  ...... 

46 
18 
143 

2 

7 

9 

31 
44 

32 

53 

20 
40 

3 
G 
4 

47 

19 

26 

32 

42 

57 

28 

15 

65 

6 

55 

39 

319 

Short-headed  red-horse.  .  . 

55 

13 

25 

15 

22 

14 

14 

43 

43 

FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 


ECOLOGICAL  TABLE— continued    . 

ALL   ILLINOIS   SPECIES   WITH   AT   LEAST   TEN    AVAILABLE    RECORDS   EACH 


Water  (97  species) 

Current  (49  species) 

Bottom  (62  species) 

5 

a 

m 

a 

a 

a 

a 

1 

Species 

le  collectio 

1 

rivers 

3 

le  collectio 

moderate 

i  to  stagna 

le  collectio 

1 

1 

"O 

a 
m 
1 

o 

•n 

Availab 

1 

Smaller 

6 

1 

JS 
1 

1 

3 

I 

it 
1 

,0 
J3 

1 

1 

K 

Mud  an 

328 

Stone-roller  . 

195 

3 

37 

55 

j 

65 

63 

23 

14 

105 

7 

57 

36 

334 

Red-bellied  dace  

23 

10 

71 

340 

Silvery  minnow  

183 

12 

36 

32 

7 

30 

47 

40 

13 

67 

33 

40 

27 

349 

Black-head  minnow  

95 

14 

30 

48 

4 

12 

50 

42 

8 

44 

25 

41 

34 

350 

Blunt-nosed  minnow  

376 

0 

34 

43 

12 

108 

50 

34 

16 

202 

20 

46 

34 

355 

Horned  dace  

151 

4 

28 

63 

2 

42 

48 

36 

16 

81 

17 

47 

36 

391 

Opsopceodus  emttwe  

40 

13 

8 

36 

32 

394 

Golden  shiner  

303 

12 

17 

29 

32 

28 

32 

57 

11 

82 

44 

29 

27 

398 

Bullhead  minnow  

187 

17 

81 

28 

7 

36 

67 

17 

16 

62 

11 

44 

45 

405 

Notropis  cayitga  

29 

13 

26 

57 

13 

54 

38 

8 

15 

27 

73 

406 

N.heterodon  

92 

19 

1 

19 

60 

14 

7 

22 

71 

408 

Straw-colored  minnow  

185 

7 

44 

37 

3 

63 

49 

26 

25 

103 

10 

50 

40 

420 

Notropis  gtiberti  

30 

2 

49 

43 

2 

18 

11 

45 

44 

426 

Notropis  illecebrosus  

11 

100 

428 

Spot-tailed  minnow  

147 

28 

5 

2 

39 

10 

20 

80 

432 

Redfin  .  .  . 

163 

24 

32 

20 

14 

13 

46 

38 

16 

55 

27 

40 

33 

448 

Silverfin.  .  .  . 

268 

0 

39 

40 

4 

65 

54 

26 

20 

126 

13 

56 

31 

456 

Common  shiner  

178 

2 

41 

50 

4 

76 

45 

36 

19 

102 

44 

48 

8 

476 

Notropis  jejunus  

51 

27 

19 

13 

11 

12 

25 

67 

8 

485 

Shiner  

206 

20 

36 

15 

11 

23 

57 

30 

13 

48 

21 

64 

14 

GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION 


ECOLOGICAL  TABLE— continued 

ALL   ILLINOIS    SPECIES   WITH    AT   LEAST  TEN   AVAILABLE    RECORDS   EACH 


Water  (97  species) 

Current  (49  species) 

Bottom  (62  species) 

1 

I 

Species 

BO 
1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

I 

a 

.2 

1 

T3 

1 

£ 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

c 

3 

to 

•c 

•£ 

i 

o> 

S 

•** 

£ 

H 

'O 

2 

^ 

a> 

, 

1 

3 

"5 

3 

1 

§ 

§ 

1 

1 

| 

1 

| 

| 

1 

•5 

1 

.2 

o3 

1 

•§ 

1 

7 

^ 

3 

DO 

6 

3 

1 

1 

> 

8 

a 

489 

Notropis  rubrifrons  

13 

4 

70 

26 

11 

45 

18 

36 

11 

82 

18 

498a 

Blackfm  

208 

3 

32 

65 

69 

41 

45 

14. 

109 

17 

43 

40 

499 

Ericymha  buccata  

74 

1 

18 

81 

14 

43 

29 

28 

38 

8 

63 

29 

501 

Sucker-mouthed  minnow  . 

15ft 

5 

36 

53 

1 

53 

53 

24 

23 

.92 

15 

51 

34 

528 

Spotted  shiner  

11 

50 

27 

22 

533 

Silver  chub  

41 

5 

29 

66 

13 

77 

15 

7 

20 

30 

55 

15 

534 

Storer's  chub  

28 

21 

32 

11 

10 

536 

River  chub  

129 

4 

41 

51 

1 

55 

53 

24 

23 

74 

8 

43 

49 

674 

Toothed  herring  

10 

46 

16 

677 

Gizzard-shad.  

105 

17 

32 

7 

20 

22 

23 

55 

22 

919 

Mud  minnow  

34 

7 

24 

S 

49 

922 

Grass  pike  

111 

7 

16 

34 

30 

14 

36 

57 

7 

29 

38 

21 

41 

939 

Menona  top-minnow  .... 

17 

42 

49 

966 

Striped  top-minnow  

83 

11 

3 

72 

957 

Common  top-minnow  .... 

208 

6 

25 

49 

12 

34 

41 

50 

9 

81 

32 

42 

26 

1000 

Viviparous  top-minnow  .  . 

17 

12 

21 

32 

12 

1145 

Trout-perch  

15 

52 

4 

19 

1147 

Pirate-perch  

100 

18 

5 

42 

21 

14 

21 

72 

7 

37 

62 

19 

19 

1177 

Brook  silverside  

120 

13 

28 

13 

36 

16 

31 

44 

25 

21 

10 

62 

28 

1381 

White  crappie  

166 

15 

19 

17 

34 

14 

64 

29 

7 

43 

35 

49 

16 

CXV111 


PISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


ECOLOGICAL  TABLE— continued 

ALL   ILLINOIS   SPECIES   WITH    AT    LEAST   TEN    AVAILABLE    RECORDS    EACH 


Water  (97  species) 

Current  (49  species) 

Bottom  (62  species) 

8 

0 

a 

- 

a 

a 

^ 

a 

1 

Species 

1 

1 

1 

S 

g 
« 

! 

1 

"S 

T3 

w 

1 

1 

1 

•c 

1 

1 

^ 

• 

§ 

$ 

•n 

e9 

1 

o 

•-5 

1 

i 

^ 

Smaller 

1 

i 

1 

Swift  to 

1 
i 

Variable 

Availabl 

1 

1 

Mud  an< 

1382 

Black  crappie  

179 

17 

16 

10 

42 

28 

25 

50 

25 

1383 

Round  sunfish  

11 

69 

30 

1385 

Rock  bass  

48 

7 

49 

24 

13 

20 

55 

15 

30 

27 

48 

52 

1387 

Warmouth  

122 

12 

17 

12 

45 

17 

88 

12 

1391 

Green  sunfish  

313 

7 

25 

52 

11 

80 

39 

45 

16 

156 

28 

41 

31 

1397 

Lepomis  miniatus  

23 

10 

11 

41 

1399 

Long-eared  sunfish  

112 

2 

12 

76 

4 

17 

41 

47 

12 

41 

37 

63 

1400 

Orange-spotted  sunfish  .  .  . 

174 

12 

25 

34 

20 

21 

38 

38 

24 

60 

30 

35 

35 

1403 

Bluegill  

214 

16 

10 

7 

54 

24 

25 

58 

17 

1408 

Pumpkinseed  

85 

6 

17 

4 

56 

1409 

Small-mouthed  black  bass 

100 

6 

43 

23 

19 

40 

55 

18 

27 

50 

6 

68 

26 

1410 

Large-mouthed  black  bass 

211 

8 

20 

17 

40 

19 

58 

26 

16 

48 

19 

54 

27 

1413 

Pike-perch  

36 

16 

10 

8 

33 

1414 

Sauger  

16 

36 

4 

25 

1415 

Yellow  perch  

83 

20 

7 

3 

51 

1417 

Log-perch  

60 

10 

38 

27 

19 

14 

93 

7 

20 

100 

1418 

Hadropterus  phoxocephalus 

85 

7 

57 

27 

3 

32 

87 

13 

48 

6 

94 

1421 

Black-sided  darter  

159 

6 

42 

47 

1 

49 

70 

30 

76 

16 

84 

1436 

Cottogaster  shumardi  

16 

55 

4 

18 

1443 

Green-sided  darter  

24 

46 

53 

GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBTJTION 


CX1X 


ECOLOGICAL  TABLE— concluded 

ALL    ILLINOIS    SPECIES    WITH   AT    LEAST    TEN   AVAILABLE    RECORDS   EACH 


Water  (97  species) 

Current  (49  species) 

Bottom  (62  species) 

s 

d 

§ 

c 

I 

"c 

S 

I 

Species 

1 

1 

I 

& 

2 

o 

t! 
jj 

-a 

^ 

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8 

1 

•3 

'o 

to 

8 

1 

§ 

§ 
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1 

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1 

1 

S* 

1 

3 

i 

3 

1 

1 

1 

1 

o 

"3 

1 

02 

1 

1 

'i> 

j3 

1 

'3 

3 

I 

3 

1446 

Johnny  darter  

234 

3 

25 

53 

16 

71 

68 

32 

126 

11 

89 

.... 

1448 

Boleosoma  camurum  

107 

9 

23 

42 

17 

17 

41 

59 

39 

60 

40 



1450 

Sand  darter  

19 

13 

47 

39 

1461 

Banded  darter  

32 

3 

74 

23 

18 

89 

11 

19 

11 

89 

1474 

Etheostoma  jessice  

158 

20 

19 

16 

24 

12 

83 

17 

31 

23 

67 

1477 

Rainbow  darter  

80 

3 

44 

45 

1 

29 

83 

17 

37 

8 

92 

14S9 

Elheostoma  squamiceps  . 

10 

35 

64 

1490 

Fan-tailed  darter  

30 

9 

87 

4 

11 

100 

1494 

Boleichthys  fusiformis  .... 

56 

1 

12 

24 

62 

21 

33 

67 

1497 

Least  darter  

12 

4 

95 

1529 

White  bass  

56 

28 

8 

46 

1531 

Yellow  bass  

100 

20 

4 

52 

1871 

Sheepshead  

57 

29 

16 

1 

27 

GENERAL    SUMMARY 

The  principal  conclusions  of  this  chapter  may  be  thus  sum- 
marized: 

1.  The  150  native  species  of  Illinois  fishes  here  recognized, 
are  so  distributed  within  and  without  the  state  as  to  indicate  an 
unequal  commingling  of  the  f aunse  of  the  surrounding  territories, 
southeastern  species  preponderating  over  southwestern,  north- 
eastern over  northwestern,  eastern  over  western,  and  southern 
over  northern. 


CXX  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

2.  The  Illinois  basin  may  be  taken  as  typical,  in  its  fish 
population,  of  the  ichthyology  of  the  whole  state — occupying,  as 
it  does,  a  central  position,  including  more  than  half  the  area  of 
the  state,  and  containing  a  great  variety  of  waters  and  situations 
fit  for  the  habitation  of  fishes,  and  more  than  four  fifths  of  the 
species  found  anywhere  in  Illinois.     The  more  important  fishes 
of  the  state  not  known  from  this  basin  are  a  few  distinctively 
northern  species,  most  of  which  are  peculiar  to  the  Great  Lakes, 
and  a  few  southern  species  which  do  not  range  as  far  north,  in 
this  state,  as  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois.     The  remainder  are  very 
rare  in  our  territory,  most  of  them  coming  from  the  west  and 
south,  and  they  are  extremely  insignificant  elements  of  our  fish 
fauna. 

3.  If  the  ten  stream  systems  of  the  state  be  brought  into 
comparison  one  with  another,  it  appears  that  the  six  larger 
areas,  containing  the  largest  streams  and  presenting  the  greatest 
variety  of  situations,  are  much  more  closely  affiliated  ichthyo- 
logically   than   are   the  four   smaller   areas.     The  least  closely 
affiliated  with  each  other  and  with  all  the  rest  >are  the  Michigan 
district  of  northeastern  Illinois  and  the  Big  Muddy  basin  in  the 
southwest.     The  closest  relations  are  those  between  the  Illinois, 
the  Rock,  and  the  Mississippi. 

4.  In  the  absence,  in  Illinois,  of  geographical  barriers  to 
the  dispersal  of  fishes,  the  causes  influencing  their  distribution 
are    climatic,    geologic,    and    ecological.     As    Illinois    extends 
through  5.5°  of  latitude,   differences  of  climate  between  the 
northern  and  the  southern  sections  of  the  state  are  sufficient  to 
affect,  in  considerable  measure,  the  distribution  of  its  plant  and 
animal  species — differences  which,  in  its  ichthyology,  express 
themselves  in  the  presence  in  northern  Illinois,   but  not  in 
southern,  of  17  species  of  general  northward  range;  and  in 
southern  Illinois,  but  not  in  northern,  of  14  species  of  general 
southward  range.     These  two  groups  of  species  meet  and  mingle 
in  the  great  north  and  south  -rivers  of  the  western  half  of  the 
state,  in  an  area  of  common  occupation  about  fifty  miles  in 
width,  from  the  latitude  of  Springfield  northward,  while  on  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  state,  occupied  by  small  streams  of 
various  direction,  these  groups  are  separated  by  an  interval  of 
about  a  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles  over  which  no  repre- 
sentative of  either  group  has  been  taken. 

5.  Geological  limitations  to  the  dispersal  of  fishes  are 
illustrated  by  peculiarities  of  distribution  in  southern  Illinois  as 


GENERAL   AND   INTERIOR   DISTRIBUTION  CXxi 

related  to  the  area  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  which  34 
species  evidently  avoid  while  35  other  species  enter  upon  it 
freely  and  inhabit  it  successfully.  A  comparison  of  the  ecologi- 
cal relations  of  these  two  groups  of  species  as  represented  by  our 
collection  records,  shows  that  they  are  strongly  distinguished 
by  the  repugnance  of  the  first  group,  and  the  indifference  of  the 
second,  to  waters  with  a  muddy  bottom,  collections  of  the  first 
group  having  been  made  from  such  situations  in  an  average 
ratio  more  than  three  times  as  great  as  that  for  the  second. 
The  waters  of  this  region,  on  the  other  hand,  are  remarkably 
and  persistently  turbid,  never  clearing  themselves  spontaneously. 
This  is  owing  in  part  to  the  extremely  fine  division  of  the  soil, 
and  in  part  to  its  generally  acid  character  and  the  consequent 
lack  of  "  granulation, "  or  cohesion  of  its  ultimate  particles  in 
granules,  such  as  occurs  in  the  alkaline  soils  of  the  other  geological 
areas  of  the  state.  The  surface  waters  of  the  district  are  soft 
and  slightly  alkaline,  but  contain  much  silica,  and  much  solid 
matter  in  suspension  which  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  remove 
completely  by  any  ordinary  filtering  or  precipitation  process. 
The  inference  is  plain  that  it  is  to  this  condition  of  the  waters — 
due  to  the  geological  history  of  the  soil  of  this  region — that  the 
unequal  distribution  of  these  fishes  is  largely  to  be  attributed. 
6.  In  consequence  of  another  clearly  recognizable  ine- 
quality of  distribution,  partly  coincident  with  the  two  preceding 
and  partly  independent  of  them,  two  additional  groups  may  be 
distinguished;  one  of  8  species,  distributed  in  this  state  mainly 
through  the  Ohio  and  Wabash  drainage,  and  the  other  of  27 
species,  distributed  through  the  Mississippi  and  its  more  north- 
erly tributaries.  The  general  distribution  throughout  the 
country  at  large  of  each  of  these  two  groups  of  species  is  quite 
varied,  and  offers  no  hint  of  a  reason  for  these  differences  in 
Illinois  Two  hypothetical  explanations  are  suggested  —  the 
first  presupposing  different  centers  of  population  outside  the 
state,  from  and  towards  which  these  species  move,  into  and  out 
of  Illinois  streams,  with  the  spring  rise,  summer  recession,  and 
winter  cooling  of  the  waters,  one  of  these  centers  to  the  west  and 
north,  and  one  to  the  east  and  south;  and  the  second  presuppos- 
ing an  organization  of  the  fish  population  into  more  or  less 
distinct  communities  of  mutually  well-adjusted  species,  each 
community  so  adapted  to  its  environment  that  members  of 
adjacent  communities  can  not  successfully  intrude  upon  its 
territory. 


CXXii  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

7.  An  analysis  of  our  statistical  data  of  ecological  distri- 
bution gives  us  many  instances  of  a  marked  difference  in  pref- 
erence of  situation  between  nearly  related  species  inhabiting 
the  same  area,  the  effect  of  which  is  to  break  the  force  of  a 
competition  between  these  species  such  as  would  prevail  if  they 
were  similarly  distributed  ecologically  as  well  as  geographically. 
Closely  related  species  are,  as  a  consequence,  ofte/i    ound  much 
less  frequently  associated  in  their  common  territory  than  either 
is  with  widely  unlike  species  of  the  same  geographical  range. 
Exceptions  to  this  rule  are  found  where  similar  species  occupy 
adjacent  areas  of  distribution  which  merely    overlap  by  their 
borders. 

8.  A  table  of  the  broader  ecologica1  relations  of  97  species 
of  Illinois  fishes  is  made  the  basis  of  a  lew  general  statements, 
but  that  subject  as  a  whole  is  reserved  for  more  detailed  treat- 
ment elsewhere. 


I    3 


THE   FISHERIES    OF   ILLINOIS  CXX111 


THE  FISHERIES  OF  ILLINOIS 

Since  the  state  and  the  nation  maintain,  in  their  commissions 
of  fish  and  fisheries,  special  agencies  for  the  investigation  and 
promotion  of  economic  ichthyology,  the  Natural  History  Survey 
is  not  constructively  responsible  for  work  in  this  field.  The 
subject  of  our  fisheries  is,  however,  an  essential  part  of  the  science 
of  ichthyology  broadly  considered — a  division,  indeed,  of  ich- 
thyological  ecology,  of  which  the  reciprocal  relations  and  inter- 
actions of  fishes  and  men  are  as  legitimate  and  necessary  a  part 
as  those  of  fishes  and  any  other  factor  of  their  ecological  environ- 
ment. The  economic  element  has,  consequently,  been  taken 
into  account  in  our  discussion  of  species  and  the  larger  groups, 
and  a  brief  resume  of  its  principal  features  is  evidently  appro- 
priate to  this  introduction. 

The  distinction  of  Illinois  as  a  fish-producing  state  is  to  be 
found  in  its  relation  to  the  Mississippi  River  and  some  of  the 
most  important  branches  of  that  stream.  Bordered  by  the 
main  river  for  the  whole  length  of  its  longest  side,  by  the  second 
largest  tributary  of  the  Mississippi  for  130  miles  of  its  south- 
eastern boundary,  and  by  the  Wabash  for  198  miles  on  the 
east,  the  state  is  also  traversed  diagonally  by  the  Illinois  River, 
admirably  adapted,  by  its  sluggish  current,  by  the  many  bottom- 
land lakes  connected  with  it  at  low  water,  by  the  extensive 
breeding-grounds  afforded  to  fishes  during  the  period  of  the 
spring  overflow,  and  by  the  vast  abundance  of  fish  food  in  its 
waters  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  to  support  an  unusually  large 
and  varied  fish  population.  Illinois  is  consequently  far  in  the 
lead  of  all  the  states  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  in  respect  to 
river-fishery  products.  It  markets  a  larger  value  per  annum  in 
fishes  taken  from  flowing  streams  than  all  the  states  immediately 
surrounding  it  taken  together.  The  total  for  this  state  in  1899 
was  $517,420,  and  that  for  Iowa,  Missouri,  Kentucky,  Indiana, 
and  Wisconsin  combined  was  $435,137.  Illinois  furnishes,  in- 
deed, more  than  one  third  of  the  fishes  sent  to  market  from  all 
the  streams  of  the  Mississippi  Valley, — valued  in  1899  at 
$1,473,040.  Furthermore,  the  Illinois  River  and  its  tributaries 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

produced  in  1899,  72  per  cent,  of  all  the  fishes  taken  from  the 
streams  of  the  state,  and  a  fourth  of  the  entire  fish  product  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley  came  in  that  year  from  this  one  stream. 
The  totals  for  the  different  Illinois  stream  systems  were  as 
follows:  Illinois,  $371,110;  Mississippi,  $118,278;  Wabash, 
$38,065;  Ohio,  $20,029;  Kaskaskia,  $3,002;  Big  Muddy,  $1,136. 

The  Great  Lake  fisheries  in  Illinois  waters  are  of  insignifi- 
cant proportions.  The  total  longshore  product  for  Cook  and 
Lake  counties  during  the  last  census  year  was  $12,500 — about 
$2,000  less  than  the  sum  derived  from  our  river  turtles  alone. 

The  river  fisheries  of  the  state  gave  employment  in  1899  to 
2,389  men,  and  utilized  a  capital  of  $225,000.  Sixteen  steam- 
boats, 200  house-boats,  and  1,500  row-boats  were  used  in  these 
fisheries,  together  with  about  45  miles  of  seines,  10  miles  of 
trammel-nets,  half  a  mile  of  gill-nets,  and  14,000  fyke-nets, 
pound-nets,  and  traps.  The  seines  and  the  fyke-nets  together 
yielded  about  80  per  cent,  of  the  product,  the  seines  bringing 
in  $251,562  and  the  fyke-nets  $210,054,  Set-lines  yielded 
$37,191;  trammel-nets,  $24,185;  traps,  $2,707;  gill-nets,  $1,290; 
drift-lines,  $1,141;  pound-nets,  $811;  and  hand-lines,  $701. 

The  dozen  most  productive  kinds  of  Illinois  fishes,  according 
to  the  statistics  of  the  last  census  year,  were  as  follows :  Euro- 
pean carp,  $244,322;  buffalo,  $111,707;  catfishes  and  bullheads, 
$68,535;  sheepshead  or  drum,  $17,729;  crappie,  $14,419;  sunfish, 
$12,067;  black  bass,  $10,842;  suckers  and  red-horse,  $7,845; 
paddle-fish,  $6,210;  white,  yellow,  and  rock  bass,  $5,601;  lake 
and  shovel-nosed  sturgeon,  $3,904;  wall-eyed  pike,  $1,174. 

About  three  dozen  of  our  150  species  of  Illinois  fishes  have 
a  marketable  value  as  food,  and  a  dozen  more  may  be  classed  as 
edible,  although  not  popular  enough  or  abundant  enough  within 
our  limits  to  have  any  commercial  value  as  Illinois  products. 
A  dozen  of  the  more  useful  species  are  of  really  good  quality, 
and  half  of  these  are  among  the  best  of  the  fresh- water  fishes. 
In  the  following  list  the  edible  species  are  distinguished  in  classes 
of  graduated  importance,  according  to  our  judgment  of  the 
estimation  in  which  these  fishes  are  generally  held.  A  few  species 
are  put  in  a  lower  class  than  their  quality  would  call  for  because 
of  their  infrequent  occurrence  in  our  fisheries. 

Although  the  fisheries  of  the  state  are  not,  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted, commercially  of  the  first  importance,  they  are  of  suffi- 
cient economic  interest  to  make  it  the  duty  of  all  concerned  to 
preserve  them  carefully  and  to  take  all  practicable  measures  for 


THE    FISHERIES    OF   ILLINOIS 


CXZV 


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CXXT1 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


their  improvement  and  development.  Making  due  allowance  for 
fishes  sold  in  local  markets,  distributed  by  peddlers,  eaten  by 
those  who  take  them,  and  not  represented,  consequently,  in 
published  statistics  of  the  trade,  it  may  fairly  be  said  that  our 
Illinois  fisheries  now  yield  at  the  rate  of  a  pound  a  day,  through- 
out the  year,  of  cheap  and  desirable  food  to  about  80,000  per- 
sons— virtually  equivalent  to  one  meal  of  fish  a  day  for  a  quarter 
of  a  million  people.  It  is  encouraging  to  conclude,  from  a 
comparison  of  available  statistics,  that  we  have  no  reason  to 
believe  that  the  general  fishery  product  of  our  rivers  is  now 
declining,  either  in  value  or  amount.  On  the  contrary,  according 
to  reports  of  the  State  Fishermen's  Association  published  from 
1897  to  1901,  the  total  value  of  the  Illinois  River  product  in- 
creased by  60  per  cent,  during  that  interval,  being  $207,685  for 
1897  and  $351,753  for  1901.  The  yield  of  carp  increased  in 
value  69  per  cent,  during  this  period;  that  of  buffalo,  88  per 
cent.;  of  black  bass,  32  per  cent.;  of  catfish  and  bullpouts,  41 
per  cent.;  of  crappie,  47  per  cent.;  of  sunfish  and  yellow  perch, 
154  per  cent.;  and  that  of  striped  bass,  27  per  cent., — the  only 
important  species  then  reported  as  diminishing  being  the  sheeps- 
head,  or  fresh-water  drum,  commonly  marketed  as  white  perch, 
the  yield  of  which  declined  27^  per  cent.* 

COMPARATIVE  STATISTICS,  FISHERIES  ILLINOIS  RIVER,  1897  AND  1901 
COMPUTED  FROM  REPORTS  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  FISHERMEN'S  ASSOCIATION 


1897 

1901 

Carp       .    . 

99059 

167  266 

Fuffalo 

48139 

90357 

Black  bass 

3434 

4532 

Drum 

20452 

14838 

Catfish  and  bullpouts  
Spoonbill.  .  . 

26,283 

36,933 
232 

*Unpublished  data  of  shipments  from  Illinois  River  points,  recently  furnished  me  through 
the  courtesy  of  Mr.  N.  H.  Cohen,  President  of  the  Illinois  State  Fish  Commission,  enable  me  to 
compare  the  total  product  of  this  river  for  1906  and  1907  with  that  for  1899  as  contained  in  the 
R«port  of  the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Fish  and  Fisheries  for  the  year  ending  June  30, 
1901.  Against  a  total  product  of  the  Illinois  River  of  approximately  14J^  million  pounds  in 
1899  we  have  for  1906  16,149,076  pounds,  and  for  1907  13,218,137  pounds,  or  an  average  for 
the  two  latter  years  of  14,683,606  pounds.— S.  A.  F. 


THE   FISHERIES    OF    ILLINOIS  CXXV11 

COMPARATIVE  STATISTICS,  FISHERIES  ILLINOIS  RIVER,  1897  AND  1901— concluded 


1897 

1901 

Sunfish  and  perch 

3080 

7830 

Striped  bass  

3,234 

4,117 

Crappie  

4,004 

5,880 

Dogfish  

10,460 

207,685 

342,445 

A  large  part  of  the  increased  yield  is  doubtless  due,  how- 
ever, to  a  mere  enlargement  of  fishing  operations,  illustrated  by 
the  data  for  1894  and  1899,  which  show  that  the  number  of  men 
employed  increased  in  the  interval  between  these  years  by  44 
per  cent,  and  the  capital  invested  by  44J4  per  cent.  This 
favorable  condition  of  our  fisheries  is  doubtless  due  in  part  to 
natural  conditions,  and  evidently  also  in  great  measure  to  state 
leg  slation  effectively  controlling  the  times  and  methods  of 
capture,  and  providing  for  the  recovery  and  restoration,  to 
streams  suitable  for  their  maintenance,  of  fishes  left  stranded  on 
the  river  bottoms  by  the  retreat  of  the  waters  of  overflow. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  the  Illinois  River, 
with  its  tributary  lakes  and  streams,  is  by  far  the  most  important 
fishing  ground  within  the  boundaries  of  Illinois,  and  that  this 
stream  and  its  dependencies  are  gifts  of  nature  to  the  state, 
valuable  in  many  ways,  which  we  should  fully  appreciate  and 
utilize  to  the  best  advantage,  allowing  no  single  interest  to 
destroy  or  overshadow  any  other.  Measures  for  its  utilization 
as  a  sewage  outlet  for  great  cities  and  as  a  commercial  highway 
between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Great  Lakes,  and  for  the  recla- 
mation of  its  enormously  fertile  bottom-lands,  should  not  be 
taken  without  due  regard  to  its  importance  and  promise  as  a 
perpetual  source  of  cheap  and  healthful  food  to  the  people  of 
the  state  and  country. 


FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 


EXPLANATION  OF  TERMS  AND  MEASUREMENTS  MOST  FREQUENTLY 
USED  IN  KEYS  AND  DESCRIPTIONS 

1.    GENERAL  BODY  PROPORTIONS 

The  length  of  the  fish  is  measured  from  the  tip  of  the  snout  (muzzle)  to  the  base  of  the  caudal 
rays  (end  of  last  vertebra).  It  does  not  include  the  caudal  fin,  and  does  not  necessarily 
include  the  last  scales,  which  in  most  scaled  fishes  encroach  more  or  less  on  the  base  of  the 
fin.  In  fishes  with  a  heterocercal  tail  the  length  is  measured  on  the  median  line  to  the  point 
where  that  line  crosses  the  line  of  insertion  of  the  caudal  rays. 

The  depth  of  the  fish  is  the  vertical  distance  through  the  body  at  its  deepest  part. 

The  width  of  the  fish  is  taken  at  the  widest  part  of  the  body. 

The  caudal  peduncle,  or  tail,  is  the  tapering  portion  of  the  body  behind  the  base  of  the  last  ray 
of  the  anal  fin.  Its  length  is  taken  from  a  vertical  from  that  point  to  the  base  of  the  mid- 
caudal  rays.  The  depth  of  the  caudal  peduncle  is  taken  at  its  slenderest  part. 

The  profile  is  the  curve  from  the  front  of  the  dorsal  fin  to  the  tip  of  the  snout. 

2.  THE  HEAD  AND  CONTIGUOUS  PARTS 

The  length  of  the  head,  ordinarily  called  "head"  in  descriptions,  is  measured  from  the  tip  of  the 
snout  to  the  extreme  hinder  margin  of  the  bony  portions  of  the  opercle.  It  includes  the 
opercular  spine  in  percoid  fishes. 

The  width  of  the  head  is  taken  at  its  widest  part. 

The  interorbital  space,  or  distance,  is  the  horizontal  distance  on  the  top  of  the  head  between  the 
eyes. 

The  diameter  of  the  eye,  called  "eye"  in  descriptions,  is  taken  lengthwise,  the  form  of  the  orbit 
not  always  being  round. 

The  nose,  or  snout,  is  measured  from  the  tip  of  the  upper  jaw  to  the  anterior  margin  of  the  orbit. 

The  length  of  the  upper  jaw,  referred  to  as  "maxillary"  in  descriptions,  is  measured  from  the  tip 
of  the  upper  jaw  (premaxillary  symphysis)  to  the  posterior  end  of  the  maxillary. 

The  gill-rakers  are  counted  both  above  and  below  the  angle  or  bend  of  the  gill-arch,  the  upper 
number  being  mentioned  first,  and  rudiments  being  omitted.  The  formula  35+60,  for 
example,  indicates  35  rakers  on  the  upper  and  60  on  the  lower  limb;  if  the  number  on  the 
upper  limb  of  the  arch  is  unknown  or  unessential,  it  is  indicated  as  "  X  ". 

The  teeth.  For  explanation  of  dental  formulae  used  in  description  of  Cyprinidce,  see  foot-note, 
pp.  102-103. 

3.    THE  FINS 

Fins  may  be  either  soft  or  spinous,  or  may  consist  partly  of  soft  rays  and  partly  of  spines.  The 
rays  of  the  soft  fin  or  portion  are  distinguished  from  spines  by  theii  articulated  or  jointed 
structure.  The  peculiar  "cross-marks"  on  the  soft  ray  are,  as  a  rule,  easy  to  make  out 
with  the  naked  eye  unless  the  specimen  is  very  small  or  the  fin  rays  are  covered  with  thick 
skin  or  dark  pigment.  In  cases  of  doubt  the  epidermis  may  be  scraped  away  from  a  part 
of  the  ray  or  spine  and  a  lens  used.  In  counting  the  fin  rays,  rudimentary  rays  are  omitted. 
Rudimentary  rays  are  those  rays,  in  general,  at  the  beginning  of  the  fin  which  are  unbranched, 
membraneless,  closely  appressed  the  one  to  the  other,  and  in  ordinary  cases  not  more  than 
half  the  length  of  the  fully  developed  rays.  This  limitation  does  not,  however,  apply  to 
the  so-called  "  club-shaped "  short  first  dorsal  ray  of  certain  Cyprinidce  (Pimephales  and 
Cliola  spp.),  which  is  separated  from  the  ray  back  of  it  by  a  well-developed  membrane. 
The  last  ray  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  is  often  split  nearly  or  quite  to  the  base  and  appears 
as  two  rays,  although  counted  as  only  one  (Fig.  3).  In  descriptions,  Arabic  numerals  are 
used  to  indicate  fin  rays  and  Roman  numerals  to  indicate  spines.  If  a  fin  contains  both 


EXPLANATION   OF  TERMS   AND   MEASUREMENTS  CXX1X 

spines  and  soft  rays  in  a  continuous  series,  a  comma  is  used  to  separate  the  numerals  indi- 
cating the  two  portions,  "Dorsal  X,  13,"  for  example,  indicating  a  single  dorsal  fin  with 
10  spines  and  13  soft  rays.  Two  separate  dorsal  fins  are  indicated  by  a  dash  separating 
the  numerals,  "Dorsal  X-12"  and  "Dorsal  X-I,  12,"  indicating  respectively:  first,  a  single 
spinous  dorsal  of  10  spines  followed  by  a  separate  soft  dorsal  of  12  rays;  and  second,  a  spinous 
dorsal  of  10  spines  followed  by  a  separate  second  dorsal  fin  consisting  of  a  single  spine  and 
12  soft  rays. 

The  height  of  a  fin  is  measured  on  the  longest  ray. 

The  length  of  a  fin  is  measured  along  its  base. 

The  origin  or  insertion  of  a  fin — identical  terms — is  that  of  its  first  ray,  or  spine.  The  position 
of  a  fin  is,  technically,  the  distance  from  the  tip  of  the  snout  to  the  base  of  its  first  ray  or 
spine.  For  example,  it  may  be  said  of  a  fish  that  the  "position  of  the  dorsal  fin"  is  con- 
tained more,  or  less,  than  twice  in  the  fish's  length 

4.    THE  SCALES 

The  most  ready  indication  of  the  size  of  the  scales  in  a  fish  is  furnished  by  the  enumeration  of 
the  scales  in  the  lateral  line,  or,  if  that  is  absent,  of  those  in  a  line  along  the  horizontal  axis, 
as  nearly  as  possible,  from  the  upper  corner  of  the  gill-opening  to  the  base  of  the  caudal 
rays.  It  is  customary  in  descriptions  to  include  also  counts  of  the  scales  in  oblique  series 
from  the  middle  line  of  the  back  to  the  lateral  line  and  including  it;  and  the  number  between 
the  lateral  line  (not  including  it)  and  the  median  line  of  the  belly  in  front  of  the  anal  fin. 
These  counts  are  expressed  in  a  conventional  formula,  "Scales  6-42-9,"  for  example, 
indicating  6  scales  in  an  oblique  series  above  the  lateral  line,  42  in  the  lateral  line  (or  in  a 
longitudinal  series  from  the  gill-opening  to  the  base  of  the  caudal  rays),  and  9  in  oblique 
series  below  the  lateral  line. 


cxxx 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


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GLOSSARY   OF   TECHNICAL   TERMS 


GLOSSARY  OF  ANATOMICAL  AND  OTHER  TECHNICAL  TERMS* 

Abdominal  ventral  fins.     Ventrals  which  are  inserted  posteriorly,  the  pelvic  bones  having  no 

connection  with  shoulder  girdle.     (See  key  to  families,  b,  note,  p.  1.) 
Acanthopterygian.     Spiny  rayed.     Said  of  the  numerous  families  of  fishes  related  to  the  basses 

and  perches,  in  which  part  or  all  of  the  rays  of  at  least  one  dorsal  fin  and  the  first  ray  of  the 

ventral  fins  are  of  a  spinous  (unarticulated)  character.     (See  spine  and  ray.} 
Accessory  caudal  rays.     Short,  procurrent  rays  on  the  upper  and  lower  (rather  than  posterior) 

part  of  the  caudal  peduncle. 
Accessory  pectoral  scale.     An  enlarged  scale  at  the  base  of  the  pectoral  fin  in  certain  herring-like 

fishes. 

Actinosts.     Small  bones  at  the  base  of  the  paired  fins. 
Adipose  fin.     A  fleshy  fin-like  structure  behind  the  dorsal  fin,  as  in  salmons  and  catfishes.     This 

is  sometimes  more  or  less  continuous  with  the  caudal  fin,  being  separated  from  it  only  by 

a  notch. 
Air-bladder.     A  sac  filled  with  air  or  other  gases,  lying  beneath  the  backbone,  and  either  adherent 

or  not  to  the  walls  of  the  visceral  cavity.     It  may  be  simple  (most  teleosts)  or  divided  into 

compartments  by  constrictions   (Catostomidce  and  Cyprinidae)   or  of  a  cellular  structure 

(some  Ganoidei).     It  is  typically  connected  with  the  oesophagus  by  a  duct,  which  is  closed 

in  many  recent  forms. 

Ammocoetes.    A  name  applied  to  the  larval  form  of  lampreys 
Amphicoelian      Concave  both  before  and  behind.     Said  of  the  vertebrae  of  fishes  generally, 

with  the  except  on  of  certain  forms.     (See  opisthocaelian.) 

Anadromous.     Running  up  rivers  from  the  sea  to  spawn,  as  do  shad  and  some  salmonoids. 
Anal.     Pertaining  to  the  anus,  or  vent. 

Anal  fin.     The  fin  on  the  median  line  behind  the  vent.     (Fig.  1,  a  ) 
Anal  papilla.    A  protuberance,  usually  bilobed,  in  front  of  the  genital  pore  and  behind  the 

vent  in  darters  and  sculpins. 
Angular.    A  bony  element  of  the  lower  jaw. 
Antrm-se.     Directed  forward. 

Anus.     The  posterior  external  opening  of  the  alimentary  canal;  the  vent. 
Arterial  bulb.     (See  conus  arteriosus.) 
Articular.     A  bony  element  of  the  lower  jaw. 
Articulated.     Jointed.     (See  ray.) 
Auditory  ossicles.     (See  Weber ian  ossicles.) 
Barbel.     An  elongated,  feeler-like  projection,  usually  about  the  mouth,  chin,  or  nose,  as  in  the 

carp,  and  in  catfishes. 
Branchial.     Of  the  gills  (branchiae). 
Branchiostegals.     Bony  rays  supporting  the  membranes  which  close  the  branchial  cavity  below. 

(Fig.  1,  br.) 

Buccal.     Of  the  mouth. 
Caducous.     Falling  off.     Said  of  certain  plate-like  scales  on  the  belly  of  darters. 

*In  the  preparation  of  this  glossary,  that  of  Jordan's  Manual  of  the  Vertebrates  (ed.  8) 
has  been  of  substantial  assistance,  and,  naturally,  some  of  the  definitions  will  be  found  to  be 
the  same.  In  addition,  however,  a  good  many  new  terms  have  been  inserted,  and  many  old 
definitions  amended,  applied  to  particular  cases,  extended  to  more  informative  dimensions,  or 
simplified  by  reference  to  figures. 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


GLOSSARY   OP   TECHNICAL   TERMS  CXXxiii 

Caecum.     A  blind  sac,  or  tubular  diverticulum,  connected  with  the  alimentary  canal.     (Fig. 

2,  pyl.) 

Canines.     Conical  teeth  (in  jaw)  which  are  larger  than  the  rest,  as  in  the  pike-perch. 
Cardiform.     Said  of  teeth  which  are  coarse  and  sharp,  like  wool-cards. 

Carinate.     Keeled;  having  a  sharp  median  ridge.     Said  of  the  belly  of  certain  herring-like  fishes. 
Catadromous.     Going  down  to  the  sea  to  spawn,  as  does  the  common  eel. 
Caudal.     Pertaining  to  the  tail  or  caudal  fin. 
Caudal  peduncle.     The  fleshy  (usually  tapering)  end  of  the  body,  between  the  anal  and  caudal 

fins.     (Fig.  1,  cp.) 
Centrum.     The  body  of  a  vertebra. 
Chiasma.     The  union  of  the  trunks  of  the  optic  nerves,  in  ganoid  fishes.     In  teleostean  fishes 

(recent  bony  forms)  the  optic  nerves  cross  or  interlace  without  uniting  to  form  a  solid 

chiasma. 

Chin.     The  space  between  the  two  rami  of  the  lower  jaw. 

Chondrocranium.    The  rudimentary  cartilaginous  cranial  skeleton,  corresponding  to  the  primi- 
tive skull  of  cartilaginous  fishes,  of  which  traces  remain  in  recent  bony  forms. 
Clavicle.     An  element  of  the  shoulder  girdle. 
Compressed.     Flattened  from  side  to  side. 
Conus  arteriosus.     A  muscular  and  contractile  bulb  between  the  ventricle  and  the  root  of  the 

aorta.     It  is  furnished  interiorly  with  one  or  more  transverse  rows  of  pocket-shaped  valves 

to  prevent  a  backward  flow  of  the  blood.     (Fig.  2,  aob.) 
Coracoid.     (See  hyper-  and  hypo-coracoid.) 

Ctenoid.     With  the  posterior  edge  pectinated.     Said  of  the  scales  in  most  spiny-rayed  fishes. 
Cycloid.     Smooth-edged.     Said  of  the  concentrically  striated  (not  ctenoid)  scales  of  typical 

soft-rayed  fishes. 

Dentary.    An  element  of  the  lower  jaw,  usually  bearing  teeth. 
Dentate.    With  tooth-like  notches. 
Depressed.     Flattened  from  above  downwards. 

Depth.     The  vertical  diameter  or  distance  through,  as  of  the  body  or  head  of  fishes. 
Dorsal.     Pertaining  to  the  back. 
Dorsal  fin.     The  fin  on  the  back,  in  front  of  the  adipose  fin,  if  that  is  present.     (Fig.  1,  dl, 

and  d2.) 

Ectopterygoid.     A  paired  bone  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth.     (Fig.  1  and  Fig.  56,  ecp.) 
Emarginate.    With  a  slight,  shallow  notch  at  the  tip.     Said  of  the  caudal  fin  of  fishes.    (Fig.  7.) 
Enlopterygoid.    A  paired  bone  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  behind  the  ectopterygoid.    (Fig.  56,  enp.) 
Falca'e,     Scythe-shaped. 
Falciform.     (See  falcate.} 

Fauna.     The  assemblage  of  animals  inhabiting  a  region. 
Filament.     Any  slender  or  thread-like  structure. 

Fi'amentous.    Slsnder  or  thread-like;  said  of  certain  elongated  fin-rays  in  some  fishes. 
Fontanelle.    An  unossified  space  in  the  roof  of  the  skull,  filled  with  cartilage  or  covered  with 

membrane. 

Foramen.    A  hole  or  opening. 

Frontal.     One  of  the  anterior  bones  of  the  roof  of  the  skull. 

Fulcra.     Spine-like  structures  bordering  the  anterior  rays  of  the  fins  in  ganoid  fishes. 
Furcate.     Forked. 
Fusiform.     Spindle-shaped.     Said  of  the  form  of  fishes  which  have  the  body  tapering  both 

anteriorly  and  posteriorly,  and  but  little  or  not  at  all  compressed. 
Ganoid.    A  term  applied  to  scales  or  plates  of  bone  covered  by  enamel.     Those  of  the  gars  are 

examples. 
Ganoid  fishes.    A  name  applied  to  the  families  of  sturgeons,  paddle-fishes,  gars,  etc.     (See 

analytical  key  to  the  orders  of  Teleostomi,  p.  13.) 
QUl-arches.     The  bony  axes  of  the  gills.     (Fig.  2,  ug  and  Ig.) 


CXXX1V  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

GUI-membranes.     The  thin  wall  of  skin,  supported  by  the  branchiostegals,  and  closing  the  gill- 
cavity  below.     (Fig.  8  and  9.) 
GUI-rakers.    A  series  of  tooth-  or  filament-like  bony  appendages  placed  along  the  anterior  edge 

of  the  first  gill  arches.     (Fig.  2,  gr.) 
Graduated.     Becoming  progressively  longer  in  one  direction.     Said  of  the  spines  in  the  fins  of 

certain  fishes. 
GiUar  plate.    A  bony  plate  imbedded  in  the  skin  between  the  sides  of  the  lower  jaw  of  certaia 

ganoid  fishes. 

Haemal  spine.     The  lower  spine  of  a  caudal  vertebra. 
Heterocercal.     Unequally  lobed.     Said  of  the  tail  of  a  fish  in  which  the  vertebral  column  is  bent 

upward  posteriorly.     (Fig.  4,  5,  and  6.     See  also  note  under  c,  of  key  to  families,  p.  1.) 
Homocercal.     Equally  lobed.     Said  of  the  tail  when  the  backbone  stops  (at  least  apparently) 

at  the  middle  of  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin.     (Fig.  7.     See  heterocercal.) 
Hyoid.    A  bone  in  the  floor  of  the  mouth;  tongue  bone.     (Fig.  57,  hy.) 
Hyomandibular.     One  of  the  chain  of  bones  forming  the  suspensorium  of  the  lower  jaw  (i.  e., 

connecting  it  with  the  skull). 

Hypercoracoid.    An  element  of  the  shoulder  girdle. 
Hypocoracoid.    An  element  of  the  shoulder  girdle. 
Hypural.    The  expanded  last  vertebra. 
Imbricated.     Overlapping,  like  shingles  on  a  roof. 

Infraoral.     Below  the  mouth.     Said  of  the  teeth  of  the  mouth  disc  below  the  cesophageal  open- 
ing in  lampreys.     (Fig.  10.) 

Infraorbitals.    A  chain  of  small  bones  below  the  eye. 
Interneurals.     The  bones  to  which  the  dorsal  fin  rays  are  attached. 
Interoperde.    A  bone  of  the  lower  part  of  side  of  head.     (Fig.  1,  io.) 
Interorbital  space.     The  space  between  the  eyes  on  top  of  the  head. 

Isocercal.    With  the  vertebrae  becoming  progressively  smaller  backward,  as  in  the  codfishes. 
Isospondylous.    With  the  anterior  vertebrae  simple.     Said  of  the  herring-  and  pike-like  fishes, 

which  lack  the  Weberian  ossicles  found  in  the  suckers,  carps,  and  catfishes.         (See  Weberian 

ossicles.) 

Isthmus.    The  fleshy  interspace  between  the  gill-openings. 
Jugular.     Pertaining  to  the  throat.     Said  of  the  ventral  fins  or  vent  when  placed  in  advance  of 

the  attachment  of  the  pectorals. 
Keekd.     (See  connate.) 

Larva.    The  young  of  an  animal,  if  differing  in  an  important  way  from  the  adult. 
Lateral  line.    A  series  of  sensory  muciferous  tubes  along  the  sides  of  a  fish. 
Leptocephalus.    A  name  applied  to  the  larval  form  of  the  eel. 
Lingual.     Pertaining  to  the  tongue. 
Lingual  teeth.    The  serrated  teeth  on  the  "tongue"  (i.  e.,  at  the  opening  of  the  oesophagus)  ia 

lampreys.     (Fig.  10.) 
Lunate.    With  a  broad  and  shallow  notch. 
Mandible.     The  lower  jaw.     (Fig.  1,  md.) 

Maxillary.     The  posterior  element  of  the  lower  jaw.     (Fig.  1,  mx.) 
Metapterygoid.     One  of  the  chain  of  bones  connecting  the  lower  jaw  with  the  skull. 
Molar.    With  a  flattened,  grinding  surface.     Said  of  teeth. 
Muciferous.     Producing  or  containing  mucus. 
Muscular  impressions.     The  visible  diagonal  lines  or  grooves  marking  externally  the  interval* 

between  the  muscle  plates.     (See  myotome.) 
Muzzle.    The  anterior  extremity  of  the  head. 
Myolome.    A  muscle  plate.     (See  muscular  impressions.) 
Nape.    The  part  of  the  neck  next  to  the  occiput.     (Fig.  1,  np.) 
Nasal.    A  bone  of  the  nose. 
Neural  spine.     The  upper  spine  of  a  vertebra. 


GLOSSARY   OF   TECHNICAL   TERMS  CXXXV 

Notochord.  The  embryonic  cartilaginous  vertebral  column,  persistent  in  lampreys,  sharks,  and 
rays,  and  most  ganoids. 

Nuchal.     Pertaining  to  the  nape. 

Obsolete.    All  but  disappeared;  only  faintly  apparent. 

Occiput.    The  back  of  the  head. 

Ocellus.     An  eye-like  spot. 

Opercle.     The  gill-cover.     (Fig.  1,  o.     See  operculum.) 

Operculum.  A  bone  of  the  side  of  the  head,  forming  the  major  portion  of  the  covering  of  the 
gill  cavity. 

Opercular  flap.     A  backward  prolongation  of  the  posterior  angle  of  the  opercle.     (Fig.  62,  63.) 

Opercular  gill.  A  rudimentary  gill  on  the  lower  inner  face  of  the  operculum  in  gars  and  stur- 
geons. It  is  a  true  gill,  receiving  venous  blood,  in  which  respect  it  differs  from  a  pseudo- 
branch.  In  the  gars,  in  which  there  is  both  an  opercular  gill  and  an  exposed  pseudo- 
branch,  meeting  at  an  angle  on  the  inner  face  of  the  operculum,  the  opercular  gill  may  be 
recognized  by  its  inferior  position  and  by  the  downward  and  backward  direction  of  its  gill- 
filaments.  (See  pseudobranch.) 

Opisthoccelian.  Concave  behind  only;  said  of  the  vertebrae  of  gars,  which  connect  by  ball  and 
socket  joints,  as  in  reptiles. 

Orbit.     The  bony  eye-socket. 

Ossicula  auditus.     (See  Weberian  ossicles.) 

Palatine.     A  paired  bone  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth.     (Fig.  56,  pi.) 

Papilla.     A  small  fleshy  projection. 

Papillose.     Covered  with  papillae. 

Parietal.     One  of  the  roofing  bones  of  the  skull. 

Pectinate.     Having  teeth  like  a  comb. 

Pectoral.     Pertaining  to  the  breast. 

Pectoral  arch.     (See  shoulder  girdle.) 

Pectoral  fins.     The  anterior  or  uppermost  of  the  paired  fins.     (Fig.  1,  p.) 

Pectoral  girdle.     (See  shoulder  girdle.) 

Pelvic  arch,  or  girdle.     The  bones  to  which  the  ventral  fins  are  attached;  pubic  bones. 

Peritoneum.     The  membranous  inner  lining  of  the  abdominal  cavity. 

Pharyngeal  bones.  Bones  representing  a  fifth  gill-arch,  behind  the  gills,  opposed  to  each  other, 
usually  in  several  upper  and  one  lower  pairs,  as  masticatory  structures,  for  which  purpose 
they  are,  as  a  rule,  armed  with  teeth.  (Fig.  57,  Iph.  and  Fig.  56,  uph.) 

Physostomous.     Raving  the  air-bladder  connected  with  the  oesophagus  by  an  open  duct. 

Plectospondylous.  Having  the  anterior  vertebrae  modified  and  furnished  with  Weberian  ossicles. 
(See  Weberian  ossicles.) 

Plicate.    With  wrinkle-like  folds. 

Postclavicle.     An  element  of  the  shoulder  girdle. 

Postfrontal.     A  roofing  bone  of  the  skull. 

Post-temporal.     The  element  of  the  shoulder  girdle  which  connects  it  with  the  skull. 

Prefrontal.    An  anterior  roofing  bone  of  the  skull. 

Premaxillary.    The  paired  bone  forming  the  front  of  the  upper  jaw.     (Fig.  1,  pmx.) 

Preoperde.    A  bone  of  the  cheek.     (Fig.  1,  po.) 

Preorbital.     A  large  bone  lying  in  front  of  the  eye. 

Procurrent.  Coming  forward.  Said  of  small  accessory  caudal  rays  encroaching  on  the  caudal 
peduncle  in  front  of  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin. 

Protractile.  Capable  of  being  drawn  forward.  Said  of  premaxillaries  which  are  extensible  for- 
ward and  are  separated  (when  retracted)  from  the  skin  of  the  forehead  by  a  groove. 

Pseudobranch.  A  rudimentary  gill-like  structure,  not  functioning  as  a  gill,  developed  on  the 
upper  inner  side  of  the  opercle,  differing  from  true  gills  in  the  fact  that  it  is  supplied  with 
arterial  rather  than  venous  blood.  The  pseudobranch  may  be  exposed  in  the  branchial 
cavity  (as  in  the  perch)  or  covered  entirely  by  skin  or  hidden  in  the  spiracular  cavity  (as 
in  sturgeons  and  the  paddle-fish).  (See  spiracle  and  opercular  gill.) 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

Pterygoids.     Paired  bones  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth.     (See  entopterygoid  and  ectopterygoid.) 

Pubic  bones.     (See  pelvic  girdle.) 

Punctulate.     Dotted. 

Pyloric  cceca.     (See  caecum.) 

Quadrate.     One  of  the  chain  of  bones  connecting  the  lower  jaw  with  the  skull. 

Ray.    An  articulated  cartilaginous  rod  supporting  the  membrane  of  a  fin.     (Fig.  1,  d2r.     See 

spine.) 

Retrorse.     Turned  backward. 
Rudimentary.     Undeveloped. 
Scapular  arch.     (See  shoulder  girdle.) 
Scute.    A  bony  or  horny  plate. 
Shoulder  girdle.     The  framework  of  bones,  in  most  fishes  connected  with  the  skull,  to  which 

the  pectoral  fins  are  attached,  including  the  post-temporal,  clavicle,  postclavicle,  hyper- 

coracoM,  and  hypocoracoid. 
Soft  dorsal.     That  dorsal  fin  or  portion  of  it  which  consists  of  soft  rays  only.     (Fig.  1,  d2r.     See 

spinous  dorsal.) 
Spine.     Fin  rays  which  are  unbranched  and  unarticulated,  and,  as  a  rule,  more  or  less  stiffened 

and  sharpened  apically.     (Fig.  1,  d2s.     See  ray.) 
Spinous  dorsal.     The  dorsal  fin  or  portion  of  it  which  consists  of  unbranched,  unarticulated 

spines  only.     (Fig.  1,  d2s.     See  soft  dorsal.) 
Spiracle.    An  opening  in  the  head,  anterior  to  and  above  the  opercular  opening,  representing  a 

primitive  gill-cleft,  in  paddle-fishes  and  in  some  sturgeons. 
Spiral  valve.     A  spiral  infolding  of  the  wall  of  the  intestine  in  ganoid  fishes. 
Subopercle.     The  bone  below  the  opercle.     (Fig.  1,  so.) 
Suborbitals.     (See  infraorbitals.) 
Subulate.     Awl-shaped. 

Supplemental  maxillary.     A  small  bone  lying  on  the  upper  posterior  edge  of  the  maxillary. 
Supraoccipital.     The  unpaired  bone  at  the  back  of  the  skull,  usually  with  a  crest  above. 
Supraoral.    Above  the  mouth. 

Symphysis.     The  point  of  junction  of  the  two  parts  of  the  lower  jaw  in  front;  the  tip  of  the  chin. 
Symplectic.         A  bone  connecting  the  hyomandibular  and  quadrate. 
Sw-im-bladder.     (See  air-bladder.) 
Teleost.    A  name  applied  to  fishes  which  have  the  skeleton  fully  ossified,  embracing  most  recent 

forms.     (See  ganoid.) 
Terete.    Cylindrical  and  tapering. 

Tessellated.     Marked  with  checks  or  squares,  as  in  mosaic  work. 
Thoracic.     Pertaining  to  the  chest  or  thorax. 
Thoracic  ventral  fins.    Ventral  fins  which  are  attached  far  forward,  nearly  beneath  the  pectorals, 

the  pelvic  bones  being  connected  with  the  shoulder  girdle.     (See  key  to  families,  bb,  note, 

p.  2.) 

Truncate.     Cut  squarely  off. 

Vent.    The  external  opening  of  the  alimentary  canal;  anus. 
Ventral.    Pertaining  to  the  abdomen. 
Ventral  fins.     The  posterior  or  lower  paired  fins,  corresponding  to  the  posterior  limbs  in  higher 

vertebrates.     (Fig.  1,  v.) 
Vertebra.    A  single  bone  of  the  spinal  column. 

Vertical  fins.    The  fins  (dorsal,  anal,  and  caudal)  on  the  median  line  of  the  body,  in  contradis- 
tinction from  the  paired  fins  (pectorals  and  ventrahj). 
Vuliform.     Of  the  form  of  villi.     Said  of  teeth  which  are  slender  and  crowded  closely  together 

in  velvety  bands. 

Vomer.     The  anterior  bone  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth.     (Fig.  56,  vo.) 
Weberian  ossicles.    A  chain  of  small  bones  developed  in  connection  with  the  modified  anterior 

vertebra;  and  connecting  the  air-bladder  with  the  ear  in  suckers,  carps,  and  catfishes. 


KEY   TO    THE   FAMILIES    OF    ILLINOIS    FISHES 


KEY  TO  THE  FAMILIES  OF  ILLINOIS  FISHES 

a.  External  gill -openings,  seven  on  each  side;    nostril  single,  median;    no  paired 

fins;    mouth  circular,  suctorial;    no  true  jaws Petromyzonidae.     Page  5. 

aa.  External  gill- openings,  one  on  each  side,  the  gills  covered  by  an  operculum; 
nostrils  paired;  one  or  two  pairs  of  fins  not  median;  mouth  more  or  less 
obviously  a  transverse  cleft. 

b.  Ventral  fins,  abdominal*  or  wanting. 

c.  Tail  evidently  heterocercal.t 

d.  Body  naked  or  with  5  series  of  bony  shields. 

e.  Body  naked;    mouth   horizontal Polyodontidse.     Page   15. 

ee.     Body  with  5  series  of  bony  bucklers;   mouth  inferior.  .  Acipenseridae.     Page  21. 
dd.     Body  with  cycloid  scales  or  rhombic  (ganoid)  plates. 

f.  Body  with  rhombic  (ganoid)   plates;   dorsal  fin  short   (of  about  10  rays),  pos- 

terior    Lepisosteidae.   'Page  30. 

ff.     Body  covered  with  cycloid  scales;   dorsal  fin  long  (of  about  50  rays) 

Amiidae.     Page  37. 

cc.     Tail  not  evidently  heterocercal. 

g.  A  single  soft  dorsal  fin,  without  spines,  except  in  scaleless  forms  and  in  the 

carp,  which  has  two  pairs  of  maxillary  barbels.     (In  forms  with  an  adipose 

fin  the  ventrals  are  inserted  distinctly  nearer  the  anal  than  the  pectorals.) 

h.     Vent  behind  insertion  of  ventrals  when  ventrals  are  present;   body  eel-shaped 

in  forms  without  ventrals. 
i.     Head  naked.* 

j.     Body  more  or  less  completely  scaled  §   (the  scales  small  and  sometimes  hard 
to  make  out  in  eel-shaped  forms);    head  without  barbels  or  with  not  more 
than  2  or  4  (all  maxillary). 
k.     Gill-membranes    "free"^f   from   isthmus,    i.    e.,    split   far   forward    and    meeting 

in  an  acute  angle.     (Fig.  8.) 
I.     No  adipose  fin;   belly  narrow,  carinated;   silvery  fishes. 

m.     Lateral   line   present Hiodontidae.     Page   42. 

mm.     Lateral  line  wanting. 

n.     Last  rays  of  dorsal  fin  much  elongated;    mouth  small,  low 

Dorosom  idse.      Page    45. 

nn.     Dorsal  fin  normal,  its  last  rays  not  elongated;   mouth  large,  terminal,  oblique. 
Clupeidae.     Page   47. 

*  In  this  key  understood  to  mean  that  the  first  ventral  ray  or  spine  is  inserted  evidently 
nearer  to  the  first  (soft)  rays  of  the  anal  than  to  the  angle  under  the  throat  formed  by  a  union 
of  free  gill-membranes,  or  (in  case  the  gill-membranes  are  not  free  from  the  isthmus)  to  a  trans- 
verse line  connecting  the  lower  corners  of  the  opercular  openings.  Exceptions  to  the  applica- 
tion of  this  definition  are  found  in  some  species  of  Gasterosteidce,  Pceciliidce,  and  Percopsidas 
which  do  not  come  within  our  range. 

f  The  heterocercal  structure  of  the  tail  (i.  e.,  the  upward  bending  of  the  end  of  the  vertebral 
column)  is  in  all  ganoids  indicated  externally  by  the  obliqueness  of  the  line  of  insertion  of  the 
caudal  rays.  This  line  forms  a  regular  crescent,  set  at  right  angles  with  the  horizontal  axis 
of  the  body,  in  other  fishes.  In  one  genus  of  American  ganoids  (Amia)  the  line  forms  an  irreg- 
ular crescent,  which  is  set,  however,  at  a  distinctly  oblique  angle  with  the  horizontal  axis.  (Fig. 
4-7.) 

J  Care  must  be  used  here,  as  the  scales  are  often  imbedded,  or  obscured  by  mucus.  The 
edges  of  the  scales  may  be  lifted  by  a  needle  in  these  cases. 

%  Except  in  a  few  forms,  not  found  in  Illinois. 
H  See  note  under  kk. 


2  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

II.     An  adipose  fin Salmonidse.     Page   60. 

kk.  Gill -membranes  more  or  less  broadly  joined*  to  isthmus,  not  meeting  in  an 
acute  angle.  (Fig.  9.) 

o.     Ventral  fins  wanting;    body  eel-shaped Anguillidae.     Page  58. 

oo.    Ventral  fins  present;  body  not  eel-shaped. 

p.  Dorsal  fin  of  more  than  25  rays,  or  shorter,  and  the  lips  thickened  and  cov- 
ered with  plicate  or  papillose  skin;  pharyngeal  teeth  numerous  and  comb- 
like  Catostomidae.  Page  61. 

pp.  Dorsal  fin  of  not  more  than  10  rays;  lips  usually  thin,  never  plicate  or  papil- 
lose; pharyngeal  teeth  fewer  than  8  on  a  side,  in  1  to  3  rows 

Cyprinidae.     Page  94. 

jj.     Body  and  head  naked   (except  in  some  tropical   forms) ;    head  typically  fur- 
nished with  4  to  8  long  barbels  (1  pair  nasal,  1  pair  maxillary,  and  2  pairs 
chin  barbels  in  fresh-water  forms  of  United  States) ..  .Siluridaa.     Page  172. 
ii.     Head  scaly;   body  completely  scaled. 

q.     Lateral  line  present;   jaws  shaped  like  a  duck's  bill Esocidae.     Page  205. 

qq.     Lateral  line  wanting. 

r.     Upper  jaw  not  protractile Umbridae.     Page  202. 

rr.  Upper  jaw  protractile  (i.  e.,  the  upper  lip  separated  from  the  skin  of  the 
forehead  by  an  evident  groove,  which  passes  wholly  across  the  muzzle). 

. .  Pceciliidae.     Page    210. 

hh.     Vent    jugular,    in   front    of   pectorals    and    close    behind    gill- openings;    eyes 

more  or  less  concealed  beneath  skin;   ventrals  ordinarily  wanting 

'. .  Am  blyopsidae.      Page    217. 

gg.  Dorsal  fin  with  either  (1)  a  single  spine  (occasionally  2),  in  which  case  the 
ventrals  are  inserted  distinctly  nearer  to  the  first  ray  of  the  pectorals  than 
to  the  first  ray  of  the  anal  and  an  adipose  fin  is  present;  or  (2)  with  two  or 
more  free  spines;  or  (3)  preceded  by  a  separate  spinous  dorsal  flnlet  of  4 
or.  more  spines. 
s.  Dorsal  with  a  single  spine  or  preceded  by  4  or  more  free  spines. 

t.     No  adipose  fin;   dorsal  free,  preceded  by  4  or  more  free  spines 

Gasterosteidae.     Page    221. 

tt.     An  adipose  fin;    dorsal,  anal,  and  ventral  fins  each  with  a  weak  and  rather 

indistinct    spine    - Percopsidae.     Page  225. 

ss.     Dorsal  fin  preceded  by  a  finlet  of  3  to  8  slender  spines. .  Atherinidas.     Page  226. 
bb.     Ventral  fins  thoracict  or  jugular. 

u.     Ventral  rays  usually  I,  7  (I,  6  or  7) ;  vent  in  front  of  pectorals 

Aphredoderidae.     Page   228. 

uu.     Ventral  rays  I,  3  to  I,  5,  typically  I,  5;   vent  normal. 
v.     Chin  without  barbel. 
w.    Body  scaled. 
x.     Anal  spines  3  to  10. 

y.     Lateral  line  wanting Elassomidae.     Page  231. 

yy.     Lateral  line  present. 

z.  Dorsal  fins  confluent,  the  spinous  portion  always  somewhat  lower  than  the 
soft  portion;  in  forms  with  deep  notch  between  dorsal  fins,  the  highest 
dorsal  spine  but  little  more  than  half  the  height  of  the  highest  soft  ray. 

Centrarchidae.     Page  232. 

zz.  Dorsal  fins  either  (1)  separate,  and  the  soft  and  spinous  portions  about 
equally  high;  or  (2)  barely  confluent,  with  the  notch  between  them  very 
deep  and  with  the  highest  dorsal  spine  as  high  as,  or  higher  than,  the 
highest  soft  ray  (marine  forms  not  included) Serranidae.  Page  318. 


*  In  these  forms  the  distance  from  the  tip  of  the  snout  to  the  angle  of  the  gill-membranes 
or  to  a  transverse  line  connecting  the  lower  corners  of  the  gill-openings  is  greater  than  the  dis- 
tance from  the  same  point  to  the  back  of  the  orbit. 

f  In  all  Illinois  species  of  the  following  families  (below  bb)  the  ventrals  are  distinctly  nearer 
to  the  throat  (angle  of  gill-membranes),  or  to  a  transverse  line  connecting  the  lower  corners  of 
the  opercular  openings,  than  to  the  first  anal  spine,  except  in  the  deep-bodied  genera  of  Cen- 
trarchidce;  in  which,  however,  the  ventrals  are  nearer  to  the  throat  than  to  the  first  soft  ray  of 
the  anal. 


KEY   TO    THE   FAMILIES   OF   ILLINOIS    FISHES  3 

xx.     Anal  spines  1  or  2,  never  more  than  2. 

z1.     Lateral  line  not  extending  on  rays  of  caudal  fin Percidae.  Page  269. 

zV.     Lateral  line  extending  on  rays  of  caudal  fin Scisenidse.  Page  322. 

ww.     Body  naked,  or  variously  armed  with  scales,  prickles,  or  bony  plates,  never 

uniformly    scaled Cottidae.  Page  325. 

vv.     Chin  with  a  median  barbel Gadidae.  Page  336. 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


FIG.  4 
Heterocercal  tail  of  Sturgeon  (Acipenser) . 


FIG.  5 

Heterocercal   tail   of   Garpike    (Lepisos 
tens). 


FIG. 
Heterocercal  tail  of  Dogfish  (Amia). 


FIG.  7 


Typical  homocercal  tail  of  Pike-perch 
(Stizostedion).  (After  Jordan  and 
Evermann.) 


FIG. 


Ventral  view  of  head  of  Large-mouthed 
Black  Bass,  showing  free  gill-mem- 
brane. 


FIG.  9 


Ventral  view  of  head  of  Common  Sucker 
(Catostomus  commersonli) ,  showing  con- 
nection of  gill-membranes. 


CLASS    MARSIPOBRANCHII — THE   HAGFISHES   AND   LAMPREYS 


CLASS  MARSIPOBRANCHII 

THE   HAGFISHES  AND   LAMPREYS 

Skull  imperfectly  developed,  not  separate  from  the  vertebral  column; 
no  true  jaws,  no  limbs,  no  shoulder  girdle,  no  pelvic  elements,  and  no  ribs; 
gills  in  the  form  of  fixed  sacs,  purse-shaped,  without  branchial  arches;  nostril 
single.  Naked,  eel-shaped  animals,  with  a  suctorial  mouth,  inhabiting 
both  fresh  and  salt  water. 


OEDER  HYPEROARTII 

THE   LAMPREYS 

Nasal  duct  not  penetrating  the  palate.     This  order  is  equivalent  to  the 
single  family  Petromyzonidw,  which  follows. 


FAMILY  PETROMYZONID>£ 

THE   LAMPREYS 

Limbless,  eel-shaped,  naked-skinned  vertebrates  of  parasitic  or  modi- 
fied parasitic  habit,  with  a  circular  suctorial  mouth  furnished  with  cusp- 
like  teeth  suited  for  rasping;  body  subcylindrical  forward,  vertically  flat- 
tened behind;  skeleton  wholly  cartilaginous;  skull  imperfect,  continuous 
with  the  vertebral  column;  no  shoulder  girdle,  no  pelvic  elements,  and  no 
ribs;  vertical  fins  with  feeble  rays,  ordinarily  continuous  around  the  tail; 
gills  7  in  number  on  each  side,  in  the  form  of  fixed  sacs,  and  without  true 
branchial  arches,  being  supported  by  a  wicker-like  arrangement  of  carti- 
lages known  as  the  "branchial  basket";  gill-openings  separate,  arranged  in 
a  row  along  each  side  of  neck;  nostril  single,  median,  in  front  of  eyes,  the 
nasal  tube  not  penetrating  the  palate;  mouth  suctorial,  without  true  jaws; 
interior  of  buccal  funnel  (mouth  disk)  armed  with  horny  teeth  or  tooth-like 
tubercles,  these  being  simple  or  multicuspid  and  resting  on  papilla;  teeth 
immediately  above  and  below  oesophagus  (on  the  so-called  ''tongue")  more 
or  less  specialized;  heart  without  arterial  bulb;  alimentary  canal  straight, 
simple,  without  caecal  appendages,  pancreas,  or  spleen;  intestine  with  a 
spiral  valve;  air-bladder  wanting;  generative  outlet  peritoneal,  the  eggs 
small  and  falling  into  the  abdominal  cavity;  young  undergoing  a  meta- 
morphosis, the  larvae  being  blind  and  burrowing  in  the  mud  or  sand. 

These  remarkable  creatures  are  among  the  most  peculiar  in 
our  waters, — peculiar  in  appearance,  in  habits  and  behavior,  in 


6  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

structure,  in  taxonomic  relations,  in  physiological  activities,  and 
in  relations  to  nature.  They  are  not  true  fishes,  their  primitive 
skeletal  structures,  the  total  absence  of  limbs  and  limb-bases, 
the  very  highly  specialized  suctorial  mouth  by  means  of  which 
they  attach  themselves  to  their  victims  to  devour  their  flesh  and 
blood,  their  peculiar  and  numerous  purse-shaped  gills,  and  their 
single  median  nostril  distinguishing  them  easily  from  the  true 
eels  and  from  all  other  fish-like  vertebrates  except  their  marine 
relatives,  the  hagfishes.  From  the  hagfishes  they  are  distin- 
guished by  having  functional  eyes  in  the  adult,  and  by  the  fact 
that  their  single  nasal  tube  does  not  open  into  the  mouth. 

Lampreys  are  found  in  the  coastal  and  inland  waters  of  the 
temperate  regions  of  both  hemispheres,  most  species  passing  a 
part  of  their  lives  in  salt  water.  A  number  of  kinds,  however, 
live  entirely  in  fresh  water,  and  all  spawn  in  fresh  water  so  far  as 
known.  Species  of  Petromyzon  are  found  along  the  coasts  and 
in  the  rivers  of  Europe,  West  Africa,  Japan,  and  North  America, 
the  great  sea-lamprey  of  Europe  and  America  (P.  marinus)  being 
represented  in  the  interior  waters  of  New  York  by  a  land-locked 
variety.  Some  four  other  genera  are  American,  two  of  these 
(Ichthyomyzon  and  Lampetra)  being  found  in  our  state  or  in 
neighboring  waters  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  eastern  United 
States. 

The  common  names  given  to  lampreys  are  numerous.  They 
are  called  variously,  in  this  country  and  in  England,  "  lam- 
preys, "  "lamperns, "  Clampers,"  Clamper  eels,"  or  even  (by 
misnomer)  simply  "eels."  The  name  " blood-sucker"  is  not 
uncommonly  applied  to  them  by  our  fishermen. 

All  lampreys  are  carnivorous,  and  most  species,  in  feed- 
ing, attach  themselves  to  the  bodies  of  fishes  by  means  of  the 
sucking  mouth,  rasping  off  the  flesh  and  sucking  the  blood  of 
their  helpless  victims,  which  swim  about  unable  to  dislodge 
them.  The  ring-muscle  of  the  mouth-disk  works  all  the  teeth 
at  once  against  the  selected  surface,  and  both  scales  and  skin 
are  soon  bored  through.  The  relentless  voracity  of  these  fear- 
ful pests  of  our  fresh  waters  is  shown  by  the  deep  holes*  which 
they  make  in  the  living  bodies  of  their  victims,  and  by  their 
own  intestines  gorged  with  blood  and  flesh.  Their  hold  is  prob- 
ably seldom  loosened  by  any  fish,  unless  by  accident.  The 
power  of  suction  exerted  by  the  buccal  funnel,  without  the  aid 

*  For  photographs  showing  the  work  of  lampreys  see  Surface,  Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm., 
1898,  pp.  209-215;  and  4th  Ann.  Rep.  Comm.  Fish,  Game,  and  For.,  N.  Y.,  1898,  pp.  191-245. 


PETROMYZONID.S: — THE   LAMPREYS  7 

of  the  formidable  armature  of  cusps,  is  such  as  to  require  con- 
siderable force*  to  loosen  it.  Lampreys  most  frequently  attach 
themselves  to  the  side  of  a  fish  under  the  pectoral  fin.  Scaleless 
fishes,  such  as  catfish  and  spoonbills,  and  the  relatively  sluggish 
soft-rayed  and  soft-scaled  fishes,  such  as  suckers  and  buffaloes, 
are  much  more  subject  to  their  attack  than  the  more  alert  and 
better  protected  spiny-rayed  fishes.  The  listf  of  species  in- 
fested in  Cayuga  Lake,  New  York,  by  the  land-locked  marine 
lamprey  (Petromyzon  marinus  unicolor)  included  practically  all 
the  fresh-water  species  which  were  not  too  small.  The  brown 
bullhead  (Ameiurus  nebulosus)  suffered  most  severely,  and  the 
common  fine-scaled  sucker  (Catostomus  commersonii)  next. 
Black  bass  were  rarely  attacked.  The  period  of  the  lamprey's 
most  destructive  activity  was  in  early  spring — February  and~ 
March. 

Whether  adult  lampreys  take  any  food  except  the  flesh  and 
blood  of  the  fish  upon  which  they  prey  is  not  certainly  known. 
A  common  statement  of  the  earlier  writers  that  they  feed  on 
worms,  insects,  and  decaying  animal  matter,  probably  rests 
mainly  on  hearsay  and  needs  confirmation.  Stomachs  of 
Cayuga  Lake  lampreys  examined  by  Dr.  Gage  in  1893  and  1898 
contained  nothing  but  blood  and  fragments  of  muscle.  The 
presence  of  pieces  of  various  small  animals  in  the  stomachs  of 
lampreys,  which  has  been  only  occasionally  reported,  is  prob- 
ably due  to  the  complete  perforation  of  the  body  wall  and  in- 
testine of  the  infested  fish.  The  charge  sometimes  made  that 
lampreys  eat  the  eggs  of  fishes  has  not  been  substantiated. 

The  breeding  habits  and  development  of  the  brook  lam- 
preys of  both  America  (Lampetra  wilderi)  and  Europe  (L.  planeri) 
have  been  studied  in  detail  by  various  workers.  The  females 
spawn  in  shallow  water,  and,  as  a  rule,  where  there  is  some 
current  over  pebbly  or  stony  bottom  near  the  headwaters  of  a 
stream.  During  the  spawning  process  the  females  cling  with 
their  oval  mouths  to  pebbles  or  stones,  with  the  body  streaming 
in  the  current,  and  are  clasped  at  the  nape  by  the  suctorial 
disks  of  the  males.  The  young  lampreys  burrow  in  the  mud  as 
soon  as  hatched.  They  are  sightless  at  first,  the  eyes  being 

*  Recent  experiments  by  Miss  Dawson  (Biol.  Bull.,  IX..  1905,  pp.  1-21,  91-111)  have 
shown  that  the  funnel  of  a  dead  brook  lamprey  (Lampetra  wilderi)  becomes  firmly  attached 
to  a  perfectly  smooth  surface  when  merely  pressed  against  it  with  the  fingers.  Her  experiments 
also  indicate  that  a  lamprey  is  able  to  glide  about  over  the  surface  of  its  host  without  loosening 
its  hold. 

f  H.  A.  Surface,  Fourth  Ann.  Rep.  Comm.  Fish,  Game,  and  For.,  N.  Y.,  1898,  pp.  191-245. 


8  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

deeply  buried  beneath  the  skin.  The  mouth  is  toothless,  and 
is  not  circular,  like  that  of  the  adult,  but  the  upper  lip  is  of  a 
squarish,  hood-like  form,  and  the  lower  one  is  much  shorter 
and  included  within  it.  The  food  of  the  larval  lamprey  con- 
sists of  microscopic  organisms  which  are  carried  into  the  phar- 
ynx by  currents  of  water  produced  by  ciliary  action.  It  is  an 
interesting  fact,  first  ascertained  by  Alcock*,  that  during  the 
larval  period  the  epidermis  of  the  European  brook  lamprey  (L. 
planeri)  has  the  power  of  secreting  a  digestive  ferment  which 
protects  the  burrowing  larva  from  the  injurious  action  of  fungi 
and  bacteria.  The  length  of  the  larval  period  is  from  3  to  5 
years.  The  period  of  transformation,  during  which  the  eyes 
move  to  the  surface,  the  suctorial  disk  replaces  the  hood,  and 
the  teeth  are  formed,  is  7  or  8  months — September  to  April 
according  to  Gage.  It,  is  not  known  how  long  a  period  of  para- 
sitic activity  intervenes  between  this  transformation  and  com- 
plete sexual  development  in  typical,  parasitic  lampreys.  That 
spawning  takes  place  but  once  and  that  it  is  accompanied  by  se- 
rious pathological  changes  in  both  parents,  from  wrhich  they  re- 
cover with  difficulty  if,  indeed,  at  all,  is  a  belief  long  generally 
held.  This  is  known  to  be  true  of  the  small  American  brook 
lamprey  (L.  wilderi),  in  which  spawning  and  death  are  said  to 
follow  so  soon  after  the  transformation  that  the  parasitic  stage 
appears  to  be  quite  passed  over  in  the  life  cycle,  the  adultfe  not 
taking  food  of  any  kind. 

The  economic  importance  of  lampreys  as  food  for  man  and 
as  bait,  especially  in  the  European  countries,  has  been  and  is 
to-day  considerable.  In  the  earlier  centuries  they  were  highly 
esteemed  as  an  article  of  food  in  England,  France,  and  Ger- 
many, the  French  regarding  as  an  especial  delicacy  stewed 
lampreys  which  had  been  first  drowned  in  wine.  In  England 
to-day  both  the  fresh-water  and  the  marine  lampreys  hold  a 
place  among  edible  fishes,  and  in  Russia  extensive  lamprey 
fisheries  were  still  carried  on  along  the  Volga  in  1873.  Nets 
and  wicker  traps  are  used  in  the  lamprey  fisheries.  As  late  as 
1880  an  extensive  fishery  was  carried  on  along  the  lower  Con- 
necticut River,  though  this  industry  is  now  practically  discon- 
tinued. Lampreys  pickled  and  put  up  in  tins  may  be  obtained 
of  our  larger  American  dealers  in  fishery  products,  and  are  said 
to  be  of  very  fine  flavor. 

*  Joum.  Anal,  and  Physiol.  norm.  path.  (2)  XIII.,  pp.  612-637. 


Ichthyomyzon  castaneus  G-irard. 
See  Hubbs  ana  Troutman 

I/lscellaneus  publication  NO  35. 

ruseum  of  Zool.  u  of  Fich. 
A  revision  of  the  ^amprey  genus  Ichthyomyzon. 


KEY  TO  GENERA  OF  PETROMYZONID^E  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.     Supraoral  cusps  2  or  3  in  number,  placed  close  together;   dorsal  fin  continuous, 

with  a  broad  notch Ichthyomyzon. 

aa.  Supraoral  cusps  spaced  wide  apart,  one  at  each  end  of  a  crescent -shaped 
plate,  which  may  bear  a  rudimentary  median  cusp;  dorsal  fin  with  a  sharp 
notch Lampetra. 

GENUS  ICHTHYOMYZON  GIRABD 

RIVER   LAMPREYS 

Supraoral  plate  typically  armed  with  2  or  3  (sometimes  4)  separate 
teeth,  set  close  together;  anterior  lingual  tooth  with  a  median  groove;  dorsal 
fin  continuous,  with  a  broad  and  shallow  notch.  Small  lampreys,  confined 
to  the  rivers  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  eastern  United  States. 

ICHTHYOMYZON  CONCOLOR   (KIRTLAND) 

SILVERY   LAMPREY 

(PL.,  p.  16) 

Kirtlancl.  '40,  Bost.  J.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ill,  342  (Petromyzon  argenteus) ;  id.,  1.  c.,  473 
(Ammocoetes);  Girard,  '58,  Pac.  R.  R.  Surv.,  381,  382  (castaneus  and  hirudo). 

G..VIIL  507  (hirudo);  J.  and  G.,  10  (argenteus);  M.  V.,  10  and  11  (Petromyzon 
castaneus  and  concolor) ;  J  and  E.,  I,  11  (castaneus  and  concolor) ;  N.,  52 
(argenteus  and  hirudo);  J.,  70  (Ammocostes  argenteus  and  hirudo);  F.,  86 
(argenteus);  L.,  7  (concolor  and  castaneus). 

Length  10  inches;  depth  9.8  to  13.8  in  length;  width  of  body  1.4  to  2  in 
its  depth;  distance  from  last  gill-opening  to  front  of  dorsal  fin  3.3  to  3.8  in 
length;  last  gill-opening  to  vent  1.9  to  2.2;  muscular  impressions  (between 
last  gill-opening  and  vent)  49  to  55.  Color  silvery,  bluish  above,  sometimes 
with  bluish  spots;  a  small  dusky  spot  above  each  gill-opening,  usually  con- 
spicuous even  in  the  larva.  Head  (to  first  gill  opening)  6.5  to  8.3  in  length; 
diameter  of  expanded  buccal  disk  about  %  length  of  head,  a  double  row  of 
fimbrise  about  the  circumference  of  the  disk,  inside  of  which  is  a  thin  flexible 
lip;  eye  6  to  8  in  head  to  first  gill-opening;  anterior  lingual  tooth  with  a  median 
(anterior)  groove;  supraorals  typically  bicuspid,  occasionally  with  one, 
three,  or  four  cusps ;  infraorals  typically  7  to  9,  occasionally  10,  and  in  one  of 
our  specimens  13;  extraorals,  when  supraorals  are  bicuspid,  as  a  rule  uni- 
cuspid,  though  this  character  is  subject  to  much  variation,  instances  of  as 
many  as  6  or  7  bicuspid  extraorals  having  been  noted  in  specimens  with 
bicuspid  supraorals.* 

*  A  study  of  our  31  specimens  of  Ichthyomyzon  shows  an  amount  of  intergradation  in  dent.nl 

Hubbs  and  Troutman  Siecles  of  Ichthyomyzon. 

ITchthvomyzon  unicuspis  N.Sp. 

»  *    fossor  Reighard  and  Cummings. 

3  castaneus  0-irard. 

4  gagei  n  .sp. 

5  bdellium  Jordan, 
greeleyi   n.sp. 


deeply  buried  t  ^  u^uuess,  ana 

is  not  circular,  ^xvc  mat  01  the  adult,  but  the  upper  lip  is  of  a 
squarish,  hood-like  form,  and  the  lower  one  is  much  shorter 
and  included  within  it.  The  food  of  the  larval  lamprey  con- 
sists of  microscopic  organisms  which  are  carried  into  the  phar- 
ynx by  currents  of  water  produced  by  ciliary  action.  It  is  an 
interesting  fact,  first  ascertained  by  Alcock*,  that  during  the 
larval  period  the  epidermis  of  the  European  brook  lamprey  (L. 
planeri)  has  the  power  of  secreting  a  digestive  ferment  which 
protects  the  burrowing  larva  from  the  injurious  action  of  fungi 
and  bacteria.  The  length  of  the  larval  period  is  from  3  to  5 
years.  The  period  of  transformation,  during  which  the  eyes 
move  to  the  surface,  the  suctorial  disk  replaces  the  hood,  and 
the  teeth  are  formed,  is  7  or  8  months — September  to  April 
according  to  Gage.  It,  is  not  known  how  long  a  period  of  para- 
sitic activity  intervenes  between  this  transformation  and  com- 
plete sexual  development  in  typical,  parasitic  lampreys.  That 
spawning  takes  place  but  once  and  that  it  is  accompanied  by  se- 
rious pathological  changes  in  both  parents,  from  which  they  re- 
cover with  difficulty  if,  indeed,  at  all,  is  a  belief  long  generally 
held.  This  is  known  to  be  true  of  the  small  American  brook 
lamprey  (L.  wilderi),  in  which  spawning  and  death  are  said  to 
follow  so  soon  after  the  transformation  that  the  parasitic  stage 
appears  to  be  quite  passed  over  in  the  life  cycle,  the  adultB  not 
taking  food  of  any  kind. 

The  economic  importance  of  lampreys  as  food  for  man  and 
as  bait,  especially  in  the  European  countries,  has  been  and  is 
to-day  considerable.  In  the  earlier  centuries  they  were  highly 
esteemed  as  an  article  of  food  in  England,  France,  and  Ger- 
many, the  French  regarding  as  an  especial  delicacy  stewed 
lampreys  which  had  been  first  drowned  in  wine.  In  England 
to-day  both  the  fresh-water  and  the  marine  lampreys  hold  a 
place  among  edible  fishes,  and  in  Russia  extensive  lamprey 
fisheries  were  still  carried  on  along  the  Volga  in  1873.  Nets 
and  wicker  traps  are  used  in  the  lamprey  fisheries.  As  late  as 
1880  an  extensive  fishery  was  carried  on  along  the  lower  Con- 
necticut River,  though  this  industry  is  now  practically  discon- 
tinued. Lampreys  pickled  and  put  up  in  tins  may  be  obtained 
of  our  larger  American  dealers  in  fishery  products,  and  are  said 
to  be  of 

*Journ. 


KEY    TO    GENERA    OF    PETROMYZONID^    FOUND   IN    ILLINOIS 


KEY  TO  GENERA  OF  PETROMYZONID>E  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.     Supraoral  cusps  2  or  3  in  number,  placed  close  together;   dorsal  fin  continuous, 

with  a  broad  notch Ichthyomyzon. 

aa.  Supraoral  cusps  spaced  wide  apart,  one  at  each  end  of  a  crescent- shaped 
plate,  which  may  bear  a  rudimentary  median  cusp;  dorsal  fin  with  a  sharp 
notch Lampetra. 

GENUS  ICHTHYOMYZON  GIRARD 

RIVER   LAMPREYS 

Supraoral  plate  typically  armed  with  2  or  3  (sometimes  4)  separate 
teeth,  set  close  together;  anterior  lingual  tooth  with  a  median  groove;  dorsal 
fin  continuous,  with  a  broad  and  shallow  notch.  Small  lampreys,  confined 
to  the  rivers  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  eastern  United  States. 

ICHTHYOMYZON  CONCOLOR   (KIRTLAND) 

SILVERY   LAMPREY 

(PL.,  p.  16) 

Kirtland,  '40,  Bost.  J.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ill,  342  (Petromyzon  argenteus) ;  id.,  1.  c.,  473 
(Ammocoetes);  Girard,  '58,  Pac.  R.  R.  Surv.,  381,  382  (castaneus  and  hirudo). 

G..VIII,  507  (hirudo);  J.  and  G.,  10  (argenteus);  M.  V.,  10  and  11  (Petromyzon 
castaneus  and  concolor) ;  J  and  E.,  I,  11  (castaneus  and  concolor) ;  N.,  52 
(argenteus  and  hirudo);  J.,  70  (Ammocoetes  argenteus  and  hirudo);  F.,  86 
(argenteus);  L.,  7  (concolor  and  castaneus). 

Length  10  inches;  depth  9.8  to  13.8  in  length;  width  of  body  1.4  to  2  in 
its  depth;  distance  from  last  gill-opening  to  front  of  dorsal  fin  3.3  to  3.8  in 
length;  last  gill-opening  to  vent  1.9  to  2.2;  muscular  impressions  (between 
last  gill-opening  and  vent)  49  to  55.  Color  silvery,  bluish  above,  sometimes 
with  bluish  spots;  a  small  dusky  spot  above  each  gill-opening,  usually  con- 
spicuous even  in  the  larva.  Head  (to  first  gill  opening)  6.5  to  8.3  in  length; 
diameter  of  expanded  buccal  disk  about  %  length  of  head,  a  double  row  of 
fimbrise  about  the  circumference  of  the  disk,  inside  of  which  is  a  thin  flexible 
lip;  eye  6  to  8  in  head  to  first  gill-opening;  anterior  lingual  tooth  with  a  median 
(anterior)  groove;  supraorals  typically  bicuspid,  occasionally  with  one, 
three,  or  four  cusps ;  infraorals  typically  7  to  9,  occasionally  10,  and  in  one  of 
our  specimens  13;  extraorals,  when  supraorals  are  bicuspid,  as  a  rule  uni- 
cuspid,  though  this  character  is  subject  to  much  variation,  instances  of  as 
many  as  6  or  7  bicuspid  extraorals  having  been  noted  in  specimens  with 
bicuspid  supraorals.* 

*  A  study  of  our  31  specimens  of  Ichthyomyzon  shows  an  amount  of  intergradation  in  dental 
characters  that  makes  impossible  the  separation  of  the  nominal  species  castaneus  (=concolor}, 
as  is  evident  from  the  following  tabulation : 
—10  F 


10 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


Supraorals. 
bicuspid  .  . 


Infraorals. 
....   7  
7 

Exiraorals.                                         Specimens. 
all  unicuspid  (concolor)  5 
1-7  bicusnirl                                                                     5 

....  8  
..      8  
....  9  
....  9  
....10  
....  7  
....  8  
....  8  
....  9  
....10  
....13  

0 
2-7 
0 
6 
2 

3 

6 
4 

1 
1 
1 
1 
,  §  (  1 

if-h 

8ah 

0 
0  
3  
3  
6  
8  

unicuspid. . . 
tricuspid.  .  . 


quadricuspid 

Dorsal  fin  continuous  with  caudal,  with  a  perceptible  depression  in  front 
of  vent;  greatest  height  of  fin  about  %  distance  from  vent  to  end  of  tail, 
height  at  depression  about  %  greatest  height  anterior  to  it,  and  about  y% 
to  %  height  of  posterior  portion;  the  larvse  with  the  dorsal  fin  single  as  in 
adults. 

Our  15  collections  of  this  species  are  chiefly  from  the  Illinois 
River  at  Havana,  Meredosia,  Ottawa,  and  Pekin.  We  have 
also  1  collection  from  Green  River,  1  from  the  Wabash  at  Mt. 
Carmel,  and  several  specimens  from  the  Mississippi  at  Alton, 
and  have  records  of  the  occurrence  of  the  species  at  Galena, 
Cairo,  and  Quincy.  It  seems  that  lampreys  are,  on  the  whole, 
rather  rare  in  our  waters.  Illinois  River  fishermen  seem  to  know 
little  of  them.  Fishes  with  lampreys  attached,  or  with  marks 
of  their  previous  presence,  are  not  common  in  the  seine  catches 
along  the  Illinois.  At  Alton  they  seem  to  be  more  numerous, 
showing  their  usual  preference  for  spoonbills,  which  species  is 
said  rarely  to  be  taken  at  Alton  or  Grafton  without  lamprey 
marks.  At  Havana  also  they  are  commonest  on  the  spoonbills 
— sometimes  two  or  three  fast  to  a  single  fish — and  next  on 
buffalo-fish  and  carp. 

At  Galena  and  at  Cairo  lampreys  have  been  seen  by  one  of 
the  State  Laboratory  assistants,  Mr.  J.  E.  Hallinen,  attached 
to  large  catfish.  We  may  consequently  say  that,  so  far  as  known 
to  us,  lampreys  are  not  seriously  injurious  to  the  fisheries  or 
the  fish  population  of  this  state,  perhaps  because  of  the  scarcity 
of  suitable  nesting  places  in  our  comparatively  sluggish  and 
muddy  streams. 

This  species  is  found  in  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  St.  Law- 
rence River,  in  the  valleys  of  the  Ohio,  the  Missouri,  and  the 
upper  Mississippi,  and  northward  to  the  Assiniboin  (castaneus). 


LAMPETRA — BROOK   LAMPREYS  11 

GEXUS  LAMPETRA  GRAY 

BROOK   LAMPREYS 

Supraoral  plate  crescent-shaped,  with  a  large  bluntish  cusp  at  each  end, 
separated  by  a  wide  space,  there  being  rarely  a  very  small  median  cusp; 
lingual  teeth  small,  with  dentate  edges,  the  median  denticle  enlarged;  dorsal 
fin  with  a  sharp  notch  or  entirely  divided.  Small  lampreys  of  the  brooks 
of  Europe  and  North  America. 


FIG.  10 

Oral  disk  of  Brook  Lamprey  (Lampetra  wttderi 
Gage) 


LAMPETRA  WILDERI  GAGE 
BROOK  LAMPREY;  SMALL  BLACK  LAMPREY 

Rafinesque,   '20,   Ichth.   Oh.,   84    (Petromyzon    nigrum;    name   preoccupied);    Jordan 

&  Evermann,  '96,  B.  U.  S.  N.  M.,  47,  I,  13. 
G.,  VIII,  504   (Petromyzon  branchialis) ;   J.  &  G.,  9   (Ammocoetes  niger);    M.  V.,   10 

(A.  branchialis);    N.,   52    (P.  niger);    J.,  70   (A.   niger);    F.,  86    (A.   niger);    L,.,  7. 

Length  6  to  10  inches;  depth  13  to  16  in  length;  width  of  body  1.3  to 
1.4Tin  its  depth;  distance  from  last  gill-opening  to  front  of  dorsal  3.4  to  3.5  in 
length;  last  gill-opening  to  vent  1.9  to  2;  muscular  impressions  70-73.  Color 
bluish  black  above,  silvery  below.  Head  (to  first  gill-opening)  7.9  to  8.7 
in  length;  diameter  of  expanded  buccal  disk  less  than  Y^  head;  fimbrise  con- 
sisting of  small  and  closely  set  tubercles,  not  arranged  in  definite  rows,  and 
densest  on  lower  lip ;  no  flexible  lip  inside  fimbriae;  eye  6  to  7  in  head;  supraoral 
lamina  with  a  large  triangular  cusp  at  each  end, separated  by  an  interval  nearly 
twice  the  width  of  base  of  a  single  cusp;  infraorals  6  or  7,  a  single  cusp  at  each 
end  of  the  plate  larger  than  those  (4  or  5)  between;  3  lateral  (extraoral)  bi- 
cuspids on  each  side  of  mouth ;  remaining  teeth  simple,  unicuspid,  and  rather 


12  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

weakly  developed.*  Dorsal  fin  consisting  of  an  anterior  and  posterior 
portion,  separated  in  adults  by  a  deep  notch  (in  breeding  season)  or  divided 
by  a  narrow  space;  in  larvae  the  fin  divided  by  a  space  equal  to  the  greatest 
height  of  the  fin;  first  dorsal  about  half  the  height  of  second. 

Males  with  a  long  urogenital  papilla,  whose  length  in  breeding  season 
is  equal  to  the  diameter  of  the  eye. 

Here  described  from  5  specimens,  one  from  Lake  Mich- 
igan (presented  by  Dr.  Jordan),  and  four  from  Cayuga  Lake, 
New  York  (from  Dr.  Gage) .  A  half  dozen  larvae  received  from 
an  unknown  source  in  the  winter  of  1903,  probably  from  within 
Illinois  and  in  answer  to  circular  letters  of  inquiry  concerning 
lampreys,  are  doubtless  of  this  species.  Its  almost  total  absence 
from  our  collections  is  probably  a  consequence  of  its  small  size 
and  non-parasitic  habit. 

This  species  is  known  from  western  New  York  and  the 
Great  Lakes  to  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  and  west  to  Iowa 
and  Kansas. 

*  It  is  the  belief  of  Gage  ('93)  and  others  that  this  lamprey  is  not  parasitic  in  habit. 


CLASS    PISCES  13 


CLASS  PISCES 

FISHES 

Skull  well  developed,  separate  from  the  vertebral  column;  a  lower  jaw, 
or  both  upper  and  lower  jaws,  developed;  limbs  typically  present  and  devel- 
oped as  fins,  in  rare  cases  (Apodes,  etc.)  wanting  through  atrophy;  shoulder 
girdle  usually  present,  rarely  obsolete;  pelvic  bones  present  (as  a  rule),  absent, 
or  represented  by  rudiment  or  vestige. — BRIDGE,  Cam.  Nat.  Hist.,  p.  475); 
gills  attached  to  bony  or  cartilaginous  gill-arches;  nostrils  paired. 

The  class  Pisces  as  here  defined,  includes,  in  addition  to  the 
true  fishes  (Teleostomi) ,  the  sharks,  skates,  and  Chimeras  (Elas- 
mobranchii),  and  the  lung-fishes  (Dipnoi).  To  the  first-men- 
tioned subclass  belong  all  American  fresh-water  fishes  and  fish- 
like  vertebrates  above  the  lampreys.  The  relation  borne  to 
each  other  by  the  10  orders  of  Teleostomi  represented  in  the 
waters  of  the  central  Mississippi  Valley  may  be  expressed  in 
the  following  analytical  key. 


KEY  TO  ORDERS  or  TELEOSTOMI 

(The  definitions  following  will  in  some  cases  not  apply  to  species  not  occurring 
in  Illinois.) 

a.  Tail   strongly   heterocercal    throughout   life;    some   fins    usually   with   fulcra; 

arterial  bulb  muscular  and  with  numerous  valves   (not  less  than  3) ;   optic 
nerves  forming  a  solid  chiasma;   air-bladder  with  a  well-developed  duct. 

b.  Skeleton  cartilaginous;    ventrals   with  an  entire  series   of  basilar  segments. 

c.  Maxillary     and     interopercle     obsolete;      skin,    naked;      air-bladder     cellular. 

Se  I  ac  hostom  i. 

cc.  Maxillary  and  interopercle  present;  skin  with  5  series  of  bony  shields;  air- 
bladder  simple Chondrostei. 

bb.  Skeleton  bony;  ventrals  with  basilar  segments  rudimentary;  air-bladder 
cellular. 

d.  Vertebrae     concavo-convex;     maxillary     transversely     divided     into     several 

pieces;   scales  rhombic  enameled  plates Rhomboganoidea. 

dd.  Vertebrae  double-concave;  maxillary  not  transversely  divided;  scales 
cyloid Cycloganoidea. 

aa.  Tail  homocercal,  diphycercal;  arterial  bulb  thin,  with  a  pair  of  opposite 
valves;  optic  nerves  crossing,  not  forming  a  solid  chiasma;  duct  to  air- 
bladder  slender  or  obsolete. 

e.  Ventral  fins  abdominal,  if  present,    (the  pelvic  girdle  being  present  and  ab- 

dominal in  forms  which  lack  ventrals) ;   mostly  soft-rayed  forms. 

f.  Mesocoracoid  present  except  in  eel-shaped  forms;  air-bladder  with  open  duct 

when  present. 

g.  Anterior   vertebrae    not    modified,    similar    to    the    others,    or    more    elongate, 

separate  and  not  provided  with  Weberian  ossicles. 


14  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

h.     Body    not    eel-shaped;    vertebrae    usually    in    moderate    numbers;     ventrals 

ordinarily  present;  mesocoracoid  present Isospondyli. 

hh.     Body  eel-shaped;   vertebrae    very    numerous,    100    to    250;     no    ventral    fins; 

mesocoracoid  wanting Apodes. 

gg.  Anterior  (3  or  4)  vertebrae  modified,  coossified  and  provided  with  a  chain  of 
small  bones  (Weberian  ossicles),  connecting  the  air-bladder  with  the 
auditory  apparatus  in  typical  forms;  mesocoracoid  present. 

i.     Parietals  distinct  from  the  supraoccipital;  symplectic  present;  maxillary  per- 
fect or   (rarely)   wanting Plectospondyli. 

ii.  Parietals  usually  fused  with  the  supraoccipital;  symplectic  absent,  maxil- 
lary imperfect,  forming  the  base  of  a  conspicuous  barbel. ..  Nematognathi. 

ff.     Mesocoracoid  absent;   body  not  eel-shaped. 

j.  Air-bladder  with  open  duct;  no  spines  in  fins;  shoulder  girdle  connected  with 
the  skull  by  a  bifid  post-temporal Haplomi. 

jj.  Air-bladder  with  a  rudimentary  duct  or  with  duct  obsolete;  dorsal  fin  with 
one  or  two  rudimentary  spines,  with  two  or  more  free  spines,  or  preceded 
by  a  finlet  of  four  or  more  spines. ..  .  Acanthopteri  (with  abdominal  ven- 
trals). 

k.     Air-bladder  with  rudimentary  duct.     (Suborder  Salmopercce.) 
kk.     Duct  to  air-bladder  wanting. 
I.     Dorsal  fin  preceded  by  two  or  more  free  spines.     (Suborder  Hemibranchii.) 

II.    Dorsal   fin  preceded   by    a   finlet    of   four    or   more    spines.      (Suborder    Per- 

cesoces.) 

ee.  Ventral  fins  thoracic  or  jugular,  spines  typically,  though  not  always,  present 
in  the  fins. 

m.    Pelvic  girdle   more   or   less   solidly   attached   to   the    clavicular   arch;    spines 

ordinarily   present   in   the   fins Acanthopteri    (with   thoracic   ventrals). 

Including  the  great  group   of  scombriform  and  perciform  fishes  and   their 
allies. 

mm.     Pelvic  bones  loosely  attached  to  the  clavicular  arch  by  ligament;   fins  with- 
out spines;   tail  isocercal,  the  hippural  not  expanded Anacanthini. 


ORDER    SELACHOSTOill — THE    PADDLE-FISHES  15 


ORDER  SELACHOSTOMI 

THE    PADDLE-FISHES 

Skeleton  chiefly  cartilaginous;  the  notochord  persistent  and  the  ver- 
tebrae imperfectly  formed,  acentrous;  anterior  vertebrae  single;  fins  without 
spines,  the  ventrals  abdominal;  a  mesocoracoid  arch  present;  a  feeble  sub- 
operculum  and  a  small  rayed  operculum;  maxillary  obsolete;  air-bladder 
cellular,  with  open  duct.  Fresh-water  fishes  of  large  size,  inhabiting  rivers 
of  North  America  and  China.  The  order  contains  but  one  family,  Pol- 
yodontidce. 


FAMILY  POLYODONTID^E 

THE    PADDLE-FISHES 

Fishes  with  smooth*  skin,  and  with  the  snout  prolonged  and  expanded 
into  a  thin  flat  blade  or  paddle;  notochord  persistent;  skeleton  chiefly  car- 
tilaginous, the  vertebral  column  entirely  so;  the  division  into  vertebrae  im- 
perfect; ventral  fins  abdominal;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  far  back;  tail  hetero- 
cercal,  the  caudal  fin  with  fulcra;  pectorals  low;  a  mesocoracoid  arch  present; 
gills  4}/£;  spiracles  present;  spiracular  pseudobranch  vestigial  or  obsolete; 
no  opercular  gill;  a  single  broad  branchiostegal ;  a  small  operculum  present; 
suboperculum  feeble  and  interoperculum  obsolete;  nostrils  double,  situated 
at  base  of  blade;  optic  nerves  forming  a  solid  chiasma;  mouth  broad,  ter- 
minal, shark-like,  the  cleft  deep,  and  overhung  by  the  paddle-shaped  snout; 
border  of  mouth  formed  by  premaxillaries,  the  maxillaries  being  obsolete; 
two  pairs  of  minute  barbels  situated  on  the  under  side  of  the  rostrum  in 
front  of  the  mouth;  jaws  and  palatines,  in  younger  specimens,  with  nu- 
merous fine  deciduous  teeth;  intestine  with  a  spiral  valve;  pyloric  caca  present, 
in  the  form  of  a  broad,  branching,  leaf-like  organ;  air-bladder  cellular,  not 
bifid,  connected  by  a  duct  with  the  oesophagus;  arterial  bulb  with  several 
pairs  of  valves. 

This  family  is  represented  by  but  two  genera,  each  con- 
taining a  single  species.  These  are  Polyodon  spathula,  the 
paddle-fish  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  Psephurus  gladius, 
found  in  the  valley  of  the  Yang-tse-Kiang  in  China.  The  latter 
species  is  said  to  reach  a  length  of  20  feet.1  Fossil  Polyodon- 
tidce  are  represented  by  the  head  and  caudal  region  of  a  form 

*  The  upper  lobe  of  the  tail  has  a  trace  of  the  primitive  rhombic  scale-covering. 


16  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

(Crossopholis  magnicaudatus)  discovered  in  the  Eocene  Green 
Rivers  shales  of  Wyoming  by  Cope. 

The  fishes  of  this  family,  in  addition  to  their  growing  eco- 
nomic importance  in  America,  are  of  exceptional  interest  to  biol- 
ogists on  account  of  their  primitive  shark-like*  form  and  char- 
acters, and  their  consequent  importance  in  tracing  the  descent 
of  the  bony  fishes. 

GENUS  POLYDON  LACEPEDE 

PADDLE-FISHES 

Gill-rakersf  exceedingly  fine,  slender,  and  numerous;  paddle  broad 
and  widening  forwards;  caudal  fulcraf  of  moderate  size,  13  to  20  in  num- 
ber. Represented  by  a  single  species,  confined  to  the  rivers  of  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley  in  North  America. 

POLYODON  SPATHULA   (WALBAUM) 
PADDLE-FISH;  SPOONBILL  CAT 

Walbaum,  1792,  Artedi  Pise.,  522  (Squalus). 

G.,  VIII,  346   (folium);   J.  &  G.,  83;   M.  V.,  33;   J.  &  E.,  I,  101;    N.,  51   (folium);    J., 
69  (folium);  F.  F.,  I.  2,  82  (folium),  II.  7,  464,  II.  8,  514,  ft;  F.,  85;   L.,  7. 

Body  fusiform,  little  compressed;  large  fishes  with  a  smooth  skin  and 
an  elongate  paddle-shaped  snout;  length  5  to  6  feet;  depth  4  to  4^  in  length 
without  snout;  caudal  peduncle  slender  , tapered,  nearly  cylindrical  in  cross- 
section,  its  least  depth  less  than  y%  depth  of  body.  Color  pale  to  dusky 
bluish  olive;  channel  specimens  (from  Mississippi  River)  regularly  lighter 
in  color  than  those  from  sloughs.  Head  large,  its  total  length  including 
spathula  and  opercular  flap  1.5  to  1.7  in  length  of  head  and  body;  eye  to 
back  gill-opening  about  3  in  distance  from  eye  to  base  of  caudal;  spathula 
(from  eye)  3.2  to  3.5  in  length  in  adults,  2.3  to  2.8  in  younger  specimens 
(1  to  2^2  feet) ;  greatest  breadth  of  spathula  (near  tip)  3.4  to  4.3  in  its  length, 
least  breadth  (near  base)  5.3  to  5.4;  a  pair  of  minute  barbels  on  under  side  of 
rostrum,  at  a  distance  in  front  of  mouth  about  equal  to  width  of  rostrum 
at  its  base;  eye  small,  about  5^  in  interorbital  space,  situated  nearly  over 
tip  of  mandible  and  directed  obliquely  downward  and  sidewise;  mouth  very 
large,  shark-like,  its  cleft  equal  to  %  distance  from  eye  to  back  of  gill-open- 
ing; jaws  and  palate  with  numerous  fine  teeth  in  young  specimens;  lower 
lip  of  spiracle  with  a  small  barbel-like  lappet;  opercular  flap  greatly  elongate 
and  tapering,  reaching  nearly  to  front  of  dorsal  fin  in  half-grown  specimens 
and  almost  or  quite  to  the  ventral  fins  in  adults;  gill-membranes  connected, 

*  The  American  paddle-fish  (Polyodon  spathula)  was  originally  described  by  Walbaum 
(1792)  as  a  species  of  shark  and  Rafinesque,  who  described  the  species  under  at  least  three 
different  names,  was  misled  once  into  an  elaborate  description  of  it  under  the  name  Proceros 
•"a  singular  new  genus  of  sharks." 

t  These  characters  separate  Polyodon  from  Psephunis,  the  paddle-fish  of  China. 


POLYODOX — PADDLE-FISHES  17 

free  from  isthmus;  gill-rakers  long  and  slender  and  exceedingly  numerous, 
in  a  double  series  on  each  arch.  Dorsal  fin  posterior,  nearly  over  anal,  its 
insertion  behind  base  of  ventrals,  on  a  raised  fleshy  base;  dorsal  rays  50  to 
65;  caudal  heterocercal,  but  scarcely  unequally  furcate,  the  upper  lobe  with 
13  to  20  well-developed  fulcra;  anal  rays  about  60.  Body  scaleless;  tip  of 
caudal  peduncle  and  sides  of  upper  caudal  lobe  with  small  elongate  rhombic 
plates ;  margins  of  gill-openings,  under  flap,  with  numerous  corneous  shagreen- 
like  denticles;  a  continuous  lateral  line  of  ramifying  tubes  from  eye  along 
upper  part  of  head  to  base  of  caudal  fin;  upper  and  under  side  of  paddle, 
top  and  sides  of  head,  and  opercular  flap  much  sprinkled  with  sensory  pits, 
distributed  in  small  circular  patches. 

This  is,  on  the  whole,  the  most  remarkable  of  our  fresh- 
water fishes.  Its  large,  paddle-shaped  snout,  of  no  very  obvi- 
ous use,  and  regarded  by  Kofoid  as  "an  expanded  sense  organ" 
merely;  its  enormous  mouth  with  weak  and  slender-boned  jaws, 
very  finely  toothed  in  the  young,  but  smooth  and  toothless  in 
the  adult;  the  elaborate  straining  apparatus  borne  on  its  gill- 
arches;  and  its  dependence,  although  one  of  our  largest  species, 
on  the  semi-microscopic  animals  and  plants  of  the  plankton  as 
the  most  important  element  of  its  food,  give  it  a  unique  place  in 
the  classification  and  the  economy  of  the  fish  population  of  our 
larger  rivers. 

It  is  found  in  the  bayous,  lowland  streams,  and  rivers  chan- 
nels of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  northward  to  Minnesota  and 
Wisconsin,  and  southward  as  far  as  Louisiana  and  Texas.  It  is 
not  found  in  the  basin  of  the  Great  Lakes,  and  is  rare  in  any 
except  the  larger  water  bodies  of  its  range.  It  is  represented 
in  our  collections  rather  sparingly,  coming  only  from  the  central 
and  southern  regions  of  Illinois  (Ohio  R.,  at  Cairo,  and  Illinois 
R.,  at  Meredosia  and  Havana).  It  is  abundant  in  the  bayous 
of  the  Mississippi  about  Alton.  It  is  rather  rare  now  in  the 
Illinois  River  above  Meredosia,  though  it  was  formerly  abun- 
dant throughout  the  year  as  far  north  as  Havana,  where  it  is 
now  taken  only  in  spring.  Its  entrance  to  the  upper  Illinois 
is  generally  thought  to  be  obstructed  by  the  dams. 

The  paddle-fish  grows  to  a  great  size.  The  largest  on  rec- 
ord, reported  by  Drs.  Jordan  and  Evermann  from  Lake  Man- 
itou,  Indiana,  weighed  163  ft).  Mr.  Wm.  C.  Harris  records  an 
example,  from  Lake  TippecanOe,  Indiana,  which  was  6  ft.  2  in. 
in  length,  and  4  ft.  in  greatest  circumference,  and  weighed  150 
Ib.  It  is  not  ordinarily  taken  heavier  than  30  to  50  ft). 

Various  names  in  addition  to  those  here  used  have  been 
applied  to  this  fish,  the  commonest  of  which  are  spoonbill, 


18  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

shovel-fish  or  shovel-cat,  duck-bill  cat,  and  spade-fish.  Per- 
haps the  earliest  mention  of  the  paddle-fish  is  by  Pere  Mar- 
quette  (1673-1677),  who  described  it  as  a  remarkable  fish,  re- 
sembling a  trout  with  a  large  mouth.  "  Near  its  nose  *  *  is 
a  large  bone  shaped  like  a  woman's  busk,  three  fingers  wide  and 
a  cubit  long,  at  the  end  of  which  is  a  disk  as  wide  as  one's  hand. " 
— Jesuit  Relations,  LIX.,  p.  111.  Edition  Thwaites. 

Although  the  paddle-fish  frequents  waters  with  a  muddy 
bottom,  the  relatively  minute  size  of  many  of  the  objects  on 
which  it  feeds,  the  absence  of  mud  from  its  intestine,  and  its 
seeming  preference  for  an'mal  food,  indicate  that  it  is  not  only 
able  to  gather  large  quantities  of  very  minute  objects  from 
among  the  weeds  and  from  the  muddy  bottom,  without  filling 
itself  with  mud,  but  that  it  can  separate  the  Entomostraca  from 
the  algae  among  which  they  swim. 

The  facts  concerning  the  food  of  this  fish  were  first  ascer- 
tained and  published  by  the  senior  author  in  1878,*  and  were 
studied  again  more  extensively  by  him  in  1888.f  The  paddle- 
fish  is  generally  supposed  by  fishermen  to  live  on  the  slime  and 
mud  of  the  river  bottom,  an  idea  confirmed  at  first  sight  by  the 
general  appearance  of  the  contents  of  the  alimentary  canal, 
which  are  commonly  a  dark  brownish  semi-fluid  mass  resem- 
bling mud,  but  which,  when  placed  under  a  microscope,  are  seen 
to  be  made  up  largely  of  countless  myriads  of  Entomostraca  of 
nearly  every  form  known  to  occur  in  our  waters.  Mixed  with 
these  in  varying  proportion,  often,  indeed,  predominating,  are 
soft-bodied  aquatic  insect  larvae,  chiefly  those  of  day-flies, 
dragon-flies,  and  gnats  (Chironomus) ,  and  a  smaller  percentage 
of  adult  aquatic  insects,  amphipod  crustaceans,  leeches,  and 
water-worms  (Naidoe),  to  which  are  added,  in  some  cases,  con- 
siderable quantities  of  aquatic  vegetation,  largely  algae,  but  in- 
cluding likewise  fragments  of  various  aquatic  plants.  In  the 
food  of  eight  specimens,  obtained  from  Peoria,  Pekin,  and  Henry, 
on  the  Illinois,  from  the  Ohio  at  Cairo,  and  from  the  Mississippi 
at  Quincy,  in  six  years  between  1877  and  1887,  no  fishes  or 
mollusks  were  found;  but  insects  and  crustaceans — the  latter 
mainly  Entomostraca — made  by  far  the  larger  part  of  the  food, 
the  insects  being  taken  by  all  the  specimens  and  in  nearly  twice 
the  ratio  of  the  crustaceans,  neuropterous  larvae  of  day-flies 
(Hexagenid)  alone  amounting  to  47  per  cent.  As  these  are  com- 

*  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  82. 
f  Ibid.,  Vol.  II.,  pp.  464-467. 


POLYODON — PADDLE-FISHES  19 

monly  creeping  over  the  mud  or  swimming  near  the  bottom,  it 
is  likely  that  this  fish  is  usually  a  bottom  feeder.  One  of  our 
specimens  contained  nothing  but  insect  food,  the  ephemerid 
larvae  above  mentioned  amounting  to  85  per  cent,  of  it.  In 
another,  30  per  cent,  of  the  food  was  algae  belonging  to  the  genus 
Nostoc',  in  still  another,  Entomostraca  made  80  per  cent,  of  the 
food,  and  in  a  second  specimen,  95  per  cent. 

An  explanation  of  the  peculiar  feeding  habits  of  this  species 
is  to  be  found  in  its  no  less  remarkable  alimentary  structures. 
The  very  remarkable  straining  apparatus  borne  by  the  gills, 
the  immense  mouth-opening,  and  the  equally  large  gill-slits,  pro- 
vide for  the  rapid  passage  of  enormous  quantities  of  water 
through  the  gill-chamber,  and  for  the  thorough  straining  out  of 
all  contents  available  for  food.  The  absence  of  any  raptatorial 
teeth  or  crushing  apparatus  in  its  large  and  feeble  jaws  or  in  its 
throat  makes  it  impossible  for  the  paddle-fish  to  capture  other 
fishes  or  to  break  the  shells  of  mollusks,  and  it  is  dependent  con- 
sequently on  the  stores  of  insect  and  crustacean  life  most  com- 
monly reserved  for  young  or  half -grown  fishes.  It  thus  be- 
comes a  rival,  for  food,  of  all  the  other  species  in  our  waters, 
living  continuously  upon  objects  which  all  of  them  must  have 
for  at  least  a  part  of  their  lives. 

By  observing  its  feeding  operations  while  in  confinement, 
Dr.  C.  A.  Kofoid  learned  that  "in  swimming  the  mouth  is  held 
wide  open,  without  the  rhythmical  respiratory  movements  com- 
mon in  most  fishes,  though  it  is  occasionally  closed  energetically. 
The  plankton  is  thus  strained  from  the  water  by  the  long  gill- 
rakers,  and  Polyodon  is  a  living  plankton-net.  The  fish  was 
never  observed  to  use  the  bill  to  stir  up  the  bottom,  or  in  any 
mechanical  way.  It  quickly  perceives  plankton  or  ground  fish 
added  to  the  water  of  the  tank,  and,  when  feeding,  circles  re- 
peatedly over  the  same  path,  at  times  dragging  the  lower  fins 
upon  the  bottom." 

In  swimming  slowly  by  the  use  of  its  caudal  fin,  its  head 
and  paddle  are  thrown  alternately  to  the  right  and  left,  the  tip 
of  the  paddle  thus  covering  a  considerable  space  on  each  side  of 
the  line  along  which  it  is  swimming. 

Little  is  known  of  the  breeding  habits  of  the  paddle-fish. 
The  young  have  been  much  sought  by  zoologists,  but  up  to  the 
present  time  none  under  6  or  8  inches  in  length  have  been  au- 
thentically reported.  Females  full  of  nearly  ripe  roe  have  been 
seen  by  different  observers  in  this  latitude  in  the  latter  part  of 


20  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

May,  but  the  attempt  to  find  their  spawning  beds  has  thus  far 
failed.  Dr.  Kofoid  reported  a  30-lb  female  taken  moving 
down  stream  at  Meredosia  Maj^  5,  1899,  which  had  evidently 
completed  spawning,  the  large  ovary  being  flabby  and  spent. 
On  the  other  hand,  a  male  weighing  251b,  taken  in  Meredosia 
Bay,  had  the  testes  large  and  full  of  milt.  It  is  a  common 
belief  of  the  fishermen  that  these  fishes  spawn  in  deep  water, 
though  the  reasons  for  this  view  are  not  conclusive. 

Dr.  Evermann  has  recorded  the  paddle-fish's  habit  of  swim- 
ming near  the  surface  of  the  water  during  the  spring  run — a  fact 
which  is  known  to  some  fishermen*,  and  is  taken  advantage  of 
by  them  in  their  fishing  operations.  At  other  seasons  the  paddle- 
fish  is  taken  occasionally  with  set-lines. 

Although  long  used  and  esteemed  by  the  negroes  of  the 
South,  it  has  not  had,  until  recently,  any  commercial  value. 
Small  specimens  weighing  from  5  to  25  Ib,  are  now  regularly 
sold,  without  head,  fins,  or  tail,  under  the  name  of  "boneless 
cat."  It  is  said  that  the  flesh  resembles  that  of  the  larger  cat- 
fishes,  though  perhaps  inferior  in  quality.  The  fish  is  valued 
chiefly,  however,  for  the  roe,  which  is  made  into  a  good  quality 
of  caviar  and  sold  for  a  high  price.  The  caviar  industry  is 
chiefly  carried  on  along  the  lower  Mississippi  River,  in  Mis- 
sissippi and  Tennessee.  The  paddle-fish  catch  of  Illinois  was  in 
1894  reported  at  135,756  fib,  valued  at  $2,658;  and  in  1899  at 
195,174  Ib,  with  a  value  of  $6,210.  The  total  production  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley  varies  annually  from  1,000,000  to  2,500,000 
Ib,  about  10,000  Ib  of  this  now  being  made  each  year  into  caviar. 

*  Mr.  H.  L.  Ashlock,  of  Alton,  says  that  he  always  fishes  the  upper  portion  of  the  water  for 
spoonbills,  and  gets  them  when  the  other  fishermen  can  get  none,  since  few  of  them  seem  to  know 
of  this  pecuxiar  habit  of  the  species. 


ORDER    CHO>TDROSTEI — THE    STURGEONS  21 


ORDER  CHONDROSTEI 

THE    STURGEONS 

Skeleton  chiefly  cartilaginous,  the  vertebral  column  entirely  so;  vertebrae 
simple,  acentrous,  the  notochord  being  persistent;  fins  without  spines;  ven- 
tral fins  abdominal;  a  mesocoracoid  arch  present;  opercular  series  repre- 
sented by  an  operculum  only;  maxillary  present;  air-bladder  simple,  with  a 
well-developed  duct.  Large  fishes  of  the  seas  and  fresh  waters  of  northern 
regions.  A  single  living  family. 

FAMILY  ACIPENSERID>£ 

THE    STURGEONS 

Elongate,  subcylindrical  fishes,  with  the  head  covered  with  bony  plates 
united  by  sutures,  and  with  the  body  armed  with  5  longitudinal  rows  of 
bony  bucklers;  skin  of  sides  between  bucklers  roughened  more  or  less  with 
small  irregular  plates  or  spine-tipped  ossicles;  skeleton  chiefly  cartilaginous, 
the  notochord  persistent  and  the  vertebrae  imperfectly  developed;  ventral 
fins  abdominal,  behind  middle  of  body;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  posterior;  tail 
hetero cereal,  its  upper  lobe  covered  with  rhombic  scales;  pectorals  placed 
low;  gills  4;  spiracles  developed  in  some  species;  an  accessory  opercular 
gill;  spiracular  pseudobranch  small  or  obsolete;  no  branchiostegals;  an 
operculum  and  an  interoperculum  present;  no  suboperculum  or  preoperculum; 
nostrils  double,  in  front  of  eye;  lateral  line  present,  concealed,  traversing 
the  interior  of  the  lateral  bucklers;  eyes  small;  optic  nerves  forming  a  chiasma; 
mouth  inferior,  protractile,  with  thickened  papillose  lips;  four  barbels  in  a 
transverse  series  on  lower  side  of  snout  in  front  of  mouth;  no  teeth  except 
in  very  young;  stomach  without  blind  sac;  rectum  with  a  spiral  valve;  pan- 
creas divided  into  pyloric  appendages;  air-bladder  simple,  connected  with 
oesophagus  by  a  duct;  arterial  bulb  with  several  pairs  of  valves. 

Sturgeons  are  widely  distributed  in  the  seas,  estuaries,  and 
rivers  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America,  south  of  the  arctic  circle, 
most  species  being  anadromous — that  is,  living  part  of  the  time 
in  salt  water  and  ascending  rivers  to  spawn,  as  do  the  salmon  and 
the  shad.  About  10  species  of  the  genus  Acipenser  are  found 
along  the  coasts  and  in  the  seas  and  rivers  of  Europe  and  Asia, 
being  most  abundant  in  the  Black  Sea,  the  Azov,  and  the  Cas- 
pian. Five  species  are  found  in  North  America,  two  on  the 
Atlantic  coast,  two  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  one  in  the  Great 
Lake  region — one  of  the  Atlantic  species  (A.  sturio)  frequenting 


22  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

the  coasts  of  both  Europe  and  America.  The  shovel-nosed 
sturgeons  are  represented  in  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  Valley 
by  two  species.  Three  species  of  the  genus  Pseudoscaphi- 
rhynchus,  resembling  more  or  less  the  American  shovel-nosed 
forms,  are  confined  to  small  tributaries  of  the  Aral  in  Tartary. 
Fossil  Acipenseridce  are  little  known,  though  numerous  scutes 
have  been  described  from  Tertiary  formations  of  Europe  and 
America.  Some  species  of  sturgeon  reach  an  immense  size, 
specimens  of  the  great  Russian  sturgeon  (A.  huso)  having  been 
taken  weighing  more  than  3,000  lb.  A .  rubicundus,  of  the  North 
American  Great  Lakes,  reaches  a  length  of  four  to  six  feet.  The 
smallest  of  the  species  of  Acipenser,  the  sterlet  (A.  ruthenus)  of 
Europe,  reaches  three  feet  in  length. 

Sturgeons  are  bottom  feeders,  using  their  hard  beaks  to 
stir  up  the  mud  in  their  search  for  food.  Stomachs  of  sturgeon 
have  been  found  to  contain  worms,  mollusks,  insect  larvae, 
small  fishes,  and  aquatic  plants.  In  feeding,  the  mouth  is  pro- 
truded downwards,  spout-like,  and  thrust  into  the  mud.  The 
sensitive  barbels  and  papillose  lips  doubtless  assist  in  locat- 
ing objects  of  food,  although  the  intestines  are  generally  more 
or  less  filled  with  mud,  swallowed  with  the  organisms  it  con- 
tains. Schools  of  sturgeon  have  been  observed  in  clear  water 
along  the  coasts  digging  up  the  soft  bottom  of  shallows  with 
their  snouts,  in  search,  no  doubt,  of  mollusks  and  other  organ- 
isms. Sturgeons  are  ordinarily  captured  with  gill-nets  and  set- 
lines,  though  seines  and  pound-nets,  set  for  other  fish,  are  said 
to  take  them  in  considerable  numbers. 

Their  breeding  season  is  in  spring,  as  a  rule  from  the  first  to 
the  last  of  May.  The  eggs  of  all  species  very  quickly  become 
glutinous  and  adhere  to  sticks,  weeds,  and  other  objects.  The 
incubation  period  of  the  Atlantic  sturgeon  is  about  7  days  in 
water  at  62°  to  65°  Fahr.  The  young  live  on  the  yolk  alone  up 
to  a  length  of  %  inch,  and  from  that  size  to  5  inches  they  feed 
on  rhizopods,  algse,  Infusoria,  and  minute  larvae. 

The  flesh  of  all  sturgeon,  excepting  the  small  shovel-nosed 
forms  of  Asia,  is  used  as  food,  and  from  the  eggs  of  the  larger 
kinds  caviar  is  prepared.  If  eaten  fresh  the  flesh,  except  of 
young  specimens,  is  usually  found  to  be  rather  coarse  and  beefy, 
and  in  consequence  sturgeon  are  as  a  rule  smoked  or  boiled  in 
vinegar  before  being  sold  Smoked  sturgeon  is  now  considered 
scarcely  inferior  to  halibut,  and  the  demand  for  it  is  increasing. 
The  consumption  of  smoked  sturgeon  in  the  United  States  was 


STURGEONS  23 

given  in  1898  as  about  4,000,000  fib  annually.  The  smoked 
flesh  usually  keeps  only  from  one  to  two  weeks.  It  is  not  kept 
in  cold  storage  because  of  its  tendency  to  mold.  Sturgeon  is 
canned  on  a  small  scale,  and  the  roe,  preserved  in  brine  and 
sold  in  tight  packages  under  the  name  of  caviar,  is  an  expensive 
food  product  highly  relished  by  many.  The  method  of  pre- 
paring caviar  is  simple,  the  first  essential  being  to  work  the  eggs 
lose  from  the  membranous  tissue  in  which  they  are  embedded. 
When  once  separated  they  are  mixed  with  Luneburg  salt,  with  a 
small  addition  of  one  of  the  ordinary  preservatives.  The  eggs 
are  then  sieved  and  drained  for  12  to  20  hours,  after  which  they 
are  ready  for  packing.  Caviar  is  usually  packed  in  small  oaken 
kegs,  although  it  is  also  sealed  in  small  tins  for  the  retail  trade. 
The  Russian  output  amounts  to  about  8,000,000  Ib  annually, 
most  of  it  prepared  on  the  Volga  and  the  Caspian.  The  Amer- 
ican product  is  about  300,000  Ib  annually  (1898),  about  %  of  it 
being  exported.  Sturgeon  bladders  are  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  isinglass,  and  oil  is  made  from  the  offal  and  softer  parts. 
Sturgeon  skin  has  been  somewhat  used  of  late  for  an  ornamental 
leather.  The  skin  is  exceptionally  durable  and  has  been  used 
for  laces  for  mill-belts. 

Owing  to  their  great  commerical  importance,  the  artificial 
propagation  of  sturgeon  has  long  been  a  subject  of  more  or  less 
nterest  in  this  country  and  in  Europe.  Up  to  the  present  time, 
however,  although  the  artificial  fertilization  of  the  eggs  and  the 
successful  hatching  of  the  young  has  been  accomplished  experi- 
mentally*, it  has  not  been  practiced  on  a  large  scale  anywhere, 
the  difficulty  of  obtaining  ripe  roe  and  milt  at  the  same  time,  the 
adhesiveness  of  the  eggs  and  their  tendency  to  mold,  and  the 
difficulty  of  finding  food  for  the  young  (which  live  on  micro- 
scopic organisms),  having  proved  serious  obstacles.  It  has, 
however,  been  the  opinion  of  all  who  have  investigated  the  sub- 
ject that  if  artificial  culture  were  once  undertaken,  these  diffi- 
culties would  soon  be  greatly  diminished.  It  ma3r  be  said  that 
the  number  of  eggs  produced  by  the  Atlantic  sturgeon  is  from 
1,000,000  to  2,500,000  to  a  single  adult  female — a  fact  of  much 
importance  to  its  artificial  culture. 

*  The  eggs  were  fertilized  dry  by  Dean  (Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1893,  p.  335),  and  then 
put  into  water  and  allowed  to  adhere  in  a  single  layer  to  a  sheet  of  cloth  stretched  over  a  frame. 
They  were  hatched  out  in  the  current  of  the  river,  the  loss  by  fungus  being  only  5  per  cent. 
Artificial  propagation  was  tried  by  the  Germans  in  1888  with  fair  success,  and  in  America  by 
Ryder  (1889),  who  lost  most  of  his  eggs.  Some  success  has  been  more  recently  obtained  by  the 
Russian  government,  operating  on  the  Ural. 


24  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

KEY  TO  ILLINOIS  GENERA  OF  ACIPENSERID^E 

a.  Spiracles  present;  caudal  peduncle  short,  roundish,  and  incompletely  armored; 

snout  not  shovel-shaped Acipenser. 

a  a.     Spiracles  wanting;   caudal  peduncle  long,  flattened,  and  completely  armored; 
snout  broad  and  shovel- shaped. 

b.  Ribs  10   or  11;    gill-rakers  2-   to   5-pointed;    belly   and  breast  wholly  covered 

with  subrhombic  plates Scaphirhynchus. 

bb.     Ribs  20  or  21;   gill-rakers  2-  or  3-pointed;   belly  and  breast  naked 

Parascaphirhynchus. 

GENUS  ACIPENSER  LINNAEUS 

THE    STURGEONS 

Snout  not  shovel-shaped;  caudal  peduncle  short,  roundish,  and  in- 
completely armored;  lower  lip  developed  only  at  corners  (2-lobed);  spiracles 
and  pseudobranchs  present;  gill-rakers  lance-shaped;  air-bladder  well  devel- 
oped. Large  fishes,  numerous  in  all  northern  rivers  and  seas. 

ACIPENSER  RUBICUNDUS  LE  SUEUR 
LAKE  STURGEON;  ROCK  STURGEON;  RED  STURGEON 

(PL.,  p.  36) 

Le  Sueur,  '18,  Trans.  Amer.  Phil.  Soc.,  388. 

G.,  VIII,  338-339,  341   (rubicundus,  maculosus,  and  liopeltis);  J.  &  G.,  87;  M.  V.,  34; 

J.    &   E.,    I,    106;    N.,    51    (maculosus   and    rubicundus);    J.,    69    (maculosus    and 

rubicundus);  F.,  85;  L.,  7. 

Body  elongate,  rather  slender,  nearly  cylindrical;  depth  7  to  7.8  in 
length;  size  large,  reaching  a  length  of  6  feet  and  a  weight  of  100  ft.  Color 
dark  olive  above,  sides  paler  or  reddish,  often  with  irregular  blackish  spots; 
color  changing  with  age,  the  young  drab  and  the  adults  green  or  red.  Head 

3.1  to  3.8  in  length;  snout  narrow,  subconic,  strongly  convex  above,  flat 
below,  its  length  2  to  2.4  in  head  (usually  less  than  2.3) ;  interorbital  space 

3.2  to  4  in  head;  eye  small,  3.3  to  4.2  in  interorbital  distance;  width  of  mouth 
about  %  greatest  width  of  snout ;  lips  2-lobed,  the  lobes  of  the  lower  lip  sep- 
arated by  a  wide  smooth  space;  barbels  of  nearly  equal  length,  weakly  pec- 
tinate on  their  outer  edges;  distance  between  two  inner  barbels  greater  than 
between  each  inner  and  outer;  gill-membranes  united  to  isthmus;  gill-rakers 
27+6,  lance-shaped*,  the  surface  of  the  arch  between  outer  and  inner  rows 
of  rakers  rather  broad  and  covered  with  fine  papillae.     Dorsal  fin  with  35-36 
rays,  its  insertion  over  tips  of  reflexed  ventrals;  anal  rays  25-28;  upper 
caudal  lobe  considerably  longer  than  lower,  but  not  produced  into  a  fila- 
ment as  in  the  shovel-nosed  sturgeons;  caudal  fulcra  numerous.     Dorsal 
scutes  12-16,  lateral  32-43,  ventral  8-10;  skin  of  breast  and  belly  and  of 
sides  between  scutes  more  or  less  densely  covered  with  small  rough  spinule- 

*  A  single  bifid  raker  was  observed  on  the  upper  part  of  the  first  arch  in  one  specimen. 


ACIPENSER — THE  STURGEONS  25 

or  tubercle-like  ossifications  ;*  sides  of  upper  caudal  lobe  sheathed  with  small 
rhombic  plates. 

This  species,  which  is  confined  to  inland  waters,  was  for- 
merly abundant  throughout  the  Great  Lake  region  and  the 
Mississippi  Valley.  Lake  sturgeon  have  of  late  years  been 
steadily  decreasing,  and  are  now  only  rarely  taken  in  the  Missis- 
sippi on  our  own  borders,  and  are  seldom  caught  in  the  Illinois. 
Fishermen  at  Alton  now  see  but  five  or  six  in  a  year  that  weigh 
over  10  Ib,  whereas  fifteen  years  ago  forty  or  fifty  large  ones, 
weighing  from  50  to  100  Ib,  were  taken  each  season. 

The  lake  sturgeon  is  said  to  inhabit  comparatively  shoal 
wraters  in  the  lakes,  ascending  streams  in  the  spring  to  spawn. 
The  most  extensive  study  of  their  habits  has  been  made  by 
Milner,  who  found  their  food,  in  the  Great  Lakes,  to  consist 
almost  entirely  of  fresh-water  snails  (Gasteropoda).  Craw- 
fishes and  insect  larvae  are  also  eaten  by  them,  and  the  eggs  of 
fishes  have  been  occasionally  found  in  their  stomachs,  though 
not  in  quantity  sufficient  to  justify  the  charge  of  destructive 
spawn -eating  sometimes  made.  Lake  sturgeon  taken  in  the 
vicinity  of  grain  elevators  have  been  found  with  stomachs  well 
filled  with  corn  or  wheat.  They  spawn  early  in  June,  generally 
preferring  rocky  ledges  near  the  snores.  While  their  spawn  is 
probably  subject  to  the  depredations  of  other  fishes,  the  young 
are  well  protected,  after  reaching  two  or  three  inches  in  length, 
by  their  spine-tipped  bucklers.  Adult  sturgeons  are  much  sub- 
ject to  attack  by  lampreys. 

Previous  to  1870  the  flesh  of  the  lake  sturgeon  was  scarcely 
used.  Fishermen  generally  made  no  use  of  them  at  all,  and  by 
many  they  were  considered  a  nuisance  and  ruthlessly  destroyed. 
In  the  following  decade,  however,  several  firms  began  the  busi- 
ness of  smoking  lake  sturgeon  and  manufacturing  caviar,  isin- 
glass, and  oil  from  the  eggs,  air-bladders,  and  viscera.  Smoked 
lake  sturgeon  is  now  considered  a  superior  article,  and  lake 
caviar  is  ranked  as  the  best  produced  in  the  United  States — 
selling  (in  1898)  for  eighty  cents  a  pound,  while  the  Delaware 
product  brought  only  sixty  cents,  and  the  South  Atlantic  fifty 
cents  (GILL). 

*  Younger  specimens  are  much  rougher  than  adults;  in  a  young  sturgeon  10  inches  long 
taken  at  Ottawa,  111.,  each  lateral  scute  has  a  peculiar  flexuose  keel  or  ridge  in  place  of  the  charac- 
teristic central  spine,  and  the  ventral  plates  are  similarly  keeled.  We  have  small  specimens  in 
addition  which  are  perfectly  normal  in  the  character  mentioned. 

—11  F 


26  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

The  artificial  propagation  of  lake  sturgeon  was  seriously  con- 
sidered by  the  United  States  Government  in  1898,  when  a  hatch- 
ery would  have  been  established  on  Lake  Erie  or  Ontario  if  a 
location  had  been  found  where  spawning  females  and  ripe  males 
were  plentiful  enough  to  justify  it.  The  Michigan  Fish  Com- 
mission hatched  and  planted  450,000  young  sturgeons  in  the 
Detroit  River  in  1893,  130,000  in  1894. 

The  sturgeon  fisheries  of  the  Illinois  lake  shore,  at  Chicago, 
South  Chicago,  and  Waukegan,  were  formerly  of  considerable 
importance,  the  catch  at  those  three  points  in  1885  amounting 
to  101,362  Ib,  or  nearly  as  much  as  was  obtained  in  1899  from 
the  whole  of  Lake  Michigan.  The  quantity  taken  in  1899  was 
negligible,  finding  no  place  in  the  statistics.  The  decrease  in 
Lake  Michigan  in  the  two  decades  ending  1899  is  shown  by  the 
following  totals: 

1880 3,839,600  Ib. 

1885 1,406,678    " 

1890 946,897   " 

1893 311,780   " 

1899 108,279   " 

We  find  no  early  statistics  of  the  sturgeon  fisheries  of  the 
Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers,  though  it  is  generally  known  that 
they  have  decreased  greatly  in  the  past  30  years.  The  quantity 
of  lake  sturgeon  taken  from  the  Illinois  River  in  1894  was  2,145 
Ib,  while  the  Mississippi  on  our  borders  the  same  year  furnished 
37,366  Ib.  In  1899  the  Illinois  River  product  had  fallen  to  635 
Ib,  and  in  1903  no  lake  sturgeon  at  all  were  reported  from  the 
Illinois.  The  total  product  of  the  interior  waters  of  the  United 
States,  exclusive  of  the  Great  Lakes,  in  1894  was  1,494,022  Ib, 
falling  in  1899  to  234,145,  and  in  1903  to  142,059  Ib. 


GENUS  SCAPHIRHYNCHUS  HECKEL 

SHOVEL-NOSED    STURGEONS 

Snout  broad  and  shovel-shaped;  caudal  peduncle  long  and  flattened 
and  completely  armored;  lower  lip  well  developed,  with  4  lappet-bearing 
papillose  lobes;  spiracles  wanting;  pseudobranchs  rudimentary;  gill-rakers 
2-  to  5-pointed;  ribs  10  or  11;  air-bladder  5  in  length  of  head  and  body. 
Fresh-water  fishes  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  One  species  known. 


SCAPHIRHYNCHUS SHOVEL-NOSED   STURGEONS  27 

SCAPHIRHYNCHUS  PLATORHYNCHUS   (KAFINESQUE) 

SHOVEL-NOSED    STURGEON 

(PL,  P-  26) 

Rafinesque,  '20,  Ichth.  Oh.,  80  (Acipenser). 
G.,  VIII,   345    (cataphractus);    J.   &   G.,    88    (Scaphirhynchops) ;    M.  V.,   34;    J.   &   E., 

I,  107;  N.,  51  (Scaphirhynchops);  J.,  69  (Scaphirhynchops);  F.,  85  (Schaphirhyn- 

chops);  L.,  8. 

Body  comparatively  elongate;  depth  6.7  to  11.7  in  length;  distance 
from  gill-opening  to  front  of  dorsal  fin  2.1  to  2.2  in  length  without  caudal; 
length  2  to  3  ft.*  Color  pale  olive,  darker  above,  where  the  color  is  often 
a  yellowish  brown;  belly  whitish.  Head  3.5  to  3.8  in  length  of  head  and 
body;  rostrum  comparatively  short  and  wide,  its  greatest  width  1.3  to  1.6 
in  its  length;  interorbital  space  3.3  to  3.7  in  head;  eye  5.3  to  8.3  (usually 
less  than  7)  in  interorbital  space;  mouth  wide,  1.6  to  1.9  in  greatest  width 
of  rostrum;  labial  papillae  well  developed;  barbels  flattened,  the  anterior  edge 
furnished  with  one.  and  the  posterior  edge  with  two  rows  of  branched  fringe- 
like  pectinations;  inner  barbels  1.1  to  1.4  in  length  of  outer;  gill-membranes 
meeting  at  the  isthmus  in  a  rather  shallow  and  usually  quite  obtuse  angle, 
the  membranes  foreshortened,  as  a  rule  falling  short  of  the  notch  in  the 
pectoral  shields;  gill-rakers  12+5,  2-  to  5-pointed  on  the  lower  half  of  arch, 
the  upper  surface  of  which  is  a  narrow  edge,  scarcely  separating  the  outer 
and  inner  rows  of  rakers.  Dorsal  rays  28  or  29,  length  of  base  of  fin  12  to 
14.3  in  length  of  head  and  body;  anal  rays  17  or  18,  ventral  21  or  22,  pectoral 
43  or  44;  caudal  filament  very  much  elongated  in  younger  specimens.  Dorsal 
scutes  17  or  18,  lateral  42  to  47  (usually  42-44),  ventral  11  to  13;  spines  of 
dorsal  and  lateral  scutes  falling  considerably  short  of  their  posterior  edge; 
area  on  body  between  dorsal  and  lateral  and  between  lateral  and  ventral 
series  of  scutes  entirely  covered  with  small,  irregularly  shaped  scale-like 
plates;  belly  and  breast  completely  armored,  the  plates  subrhombic  in  form, 
becoming  much  smaller  forward. 

This  fish  is  fairly  common  in  the  Mississippi,  Ohio,  and  Mis- 
souri rivers,  and  in  the  other  larger  streams  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  being  more  abundant  southward.  Little  is  known  of 
its  habits.  It  spawns  between  April  and  June,  probably  ascend- 
ing smaller  streams  for  that  purpose.  The  stomachs  of  two 
specimens  studied  by  us  were  found  to  contain  considerable 
quantities  of  a  greenish  gnat  larva  (Ceratopogori),  a  small  num- 
ber of  nymphs  of  May-flies  (Hexagenia),  a  single  dragon-fly 
nymph  (Libellula  pulchella),  which  occurs  on  bottom  mud  in 
comparatively  shallow  water,  and  a  few  caddis-fly  larvae  (Phry- 
ganeidce) . 

*  Of  41  males  and  21  females  recently  examined  by  Dr.  Evermann  (Rep.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm., 
1901,  pp.  285-286)  the  average  length  and  weight  for  females  was  25.4  inches  and  3.24  !b,  the 
largest  female  being  but  29.5  inches  long  and  weighing  4.75  Ib,  while  males  averaged  21.7 
inches  and  1.89  Ib,  the  longest  being  27  inches.  These  measurements  are  considerably  under 
those  usually  assigned  in  the  literature,  and  it  seems  probable  that  the  species  rarely  reaches 
a  length  greater  than  3  feet. 


28  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

The  flesh  of  the  shovel-nosed  sturgeon  is  now  regularly 
marketed,  being  cut  into  steaks  or  smoked.  At  Louisville, 
where  this  fish  is  abundant  and  is  taken  in  seines,  the  eggs  are 
mixed  with  those  of  the  paddle-fish  and  used  for  caviar.  The 
shovel-nosed  sturgeon  fishery  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  tribu- 
taries yields  now  about  700,000  Ib  annually.  The  catch  in  the 
Mississippi  on  our  border  varies  from  50,000  to  100,000  Ib.  The 
Illinois  River  catch  was  18,000  Ib  in  1899,  but  has  since  rapidly 
declined,  and  this  fish  is  seldom  taken  now  so  far  north  as 
Havana. 

GENUS  PARASCAPHIRHYNCHUS  FORBES  &  EICHAEDSON 

WHITE    STURGEON 

Snout  broad  and  shovel-shaped;  caudal  peduncle  long  and  flattened 
and  completely  armored ;  lips  as  in  Scaphirhynchus;  spiracles  wanting;  pseudo- 
branchise  obsolescent;  gill-rakers  2-  or  3-pointed;  ribs  20  or  21;  air-bladder 
8  in  length  of  head  and  body.  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers.  One  species. 

PARASCAPHIRHYNCHUS   ALBUS  FORBES  &  RICHARDSON 

WHITE    STURGEON* 

(PL.,  p.  26) 
Forbes  &  Richardson,  '05,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  VII,  37-44. 

Body  comparatively  short;  depth  7.5  to  9  in  length  of  head  and  body; 
distance  from  gill-cavity  to  front  of  dorsal  fin  2.5  in  length;  length  3  to  4 
ft.f  Color  very  light,  the  upper  parts  bluish  gray  in  life,  the  lower  parts  of 
the  sides  and  belly  shading  from  very  light  gray  to  almost  milky  white. 
Head  longer  and  somewhat  more  depressed  than  in  S.  platorhynchus,  2.9  to 
3.2  in  length;  width  of  rostrum  2.5  to  2.9  in  its  length,  the  snout  narrower 
and  more  pointed  than  in  Scaphirhynchus;  interorbital  space  3.7  to  4.2  in 
head;  eye  very  small,  8.3  to  10  in  distance  between  orbits;  mouth  larger 
than  in  Scaphirhynchus,  its  width  1.4  to  1.6  in  the  greatest  width  of  the 
rostrum;  papillae  of  the  four  clusters  of  the  lower  lip  reduced  to  a  few  flat- 
tened scallops  at  the  hinder  margin  of  the  lappet;  barbels  doubly  pectinated 
on  the  anterior  edge,  the  posterior  pectinations  obsolete  or  wanting,  the  inner 
barbels  1.7  to  2.9  in  length  of  outer;  gill-membranes  meeting  in  a  full  and 
deep  and  rather  sharp  angle,  the  membranes  continued  backward  on  each 
side  so  as  to  cover  the  anterior  fourth  of  the  pectoral  shields;  gill-rakers  10 

*  This  fish  is  distinguished  as  the  "white  sturgeon"  by  the  Mississippi  River  fishermen 
who  are  acquainted  with  it,  the  common  shovel-nose  (Scaphirhynchus  platorhynchus),  which 
is  of  a  yellowish  brown  color,  being  known  by  them  usually  as  the  "switch-tail,"  in  allusion  to 
its  long  caudal  filament. 

t  Our  largest  specimen  of  this  species  measures  43*/2  inches  from  tip  of  snout  to  base  of 
caudal,  its  weight  being  9%  Ib.  Mr.  H.  L.  Ashlock,  of  Alton,  says  that  he  has  seen  specimens 
4J/j  feet  in  length,  with  an  estimated  weight  of  15  to  25  Ib. 


PAEASCAPHIBHYNCHUS — WHITE   STURGEON  29 

or  11,  +  3,  2-  or  3-pointed  on  lower  half  of  arch,  the  two  rows  of  each  arch 
separated  by  a  broad  smooth  surface.  Dorsal  rays  35  to  43,  the  base  of  the 
fin  11.8  to  12.8  in  length  of  head  and  body;  anal  rays  20  to  23,  ventral  23  to 
26,  pectoral  43  to  49;  caudal  filament  scarcely  developed.  Dorsal  scutes 
16  to  19,  lateral  41  to  47,  ventral  10  to  13;  spines  of  dorsal  and  lateral  scutes 
usually  not  far  from  even  with  their  posterior  margin;  area  between  dorsal 
and  lateral  and  between  lateral  and  ventral  series  of  scutes  more  or  less 
densely  covered  with  small  denticulated  ossifications,  diminishing  in  size 
and  abundance  from  above  downward;  some  imperfectly  formed  plates 
along  base  of  dorsal  row  of  shields  as  far  forward  as  the  backward  reach  of 
the  pectorals,  these  plates  becoming  more  numerous  and  larger  farther 
back,  where  they  are  continuous  with  those  which  roof  the  caudal  peduncle; 
belly  wholly  naked  to  front  of  ventrals;  breast  with  a  few  bony  points  similar 
to  those  on  the  lower  part  of  the  sides. 

This  species  is  known  to  us  at  present  only  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  at  Graf  ton  and  Alton,  Illinois.  It  is  rare  in  the 
catches  at  those  places,  only  one  in  three  hundred  of  the  shovel- 
nosed  sturgeons  taken  belonging  to  this  species.  It  is  said  by 
Mr.  H.  L.  Ashlock,  who  first  brought  the  fish  to  our  notice,  to 
be  somewhat  commoner  in  the  lower  Missouri.  The  spawning 
season  is  between  June  1  and  August  1.  The  sexual  differences 
are  unknown,  all  our  seven  specimens  being  males.  The  fish 
is  said  by  Mr.  Ashlock  to  prefer  swifter  water  than  the  common 
shovel-nose.  The  stomachs  of  the  seven  types  were  nearly 
empty,  and  the  greatly  comminuted  matter  which  they  con- 
tained was  wholly  unidentifiable. 


30  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


ORDER  RHOMBOGANOIDEA 

THE    GARPIKES 

Skeleton  chiefly  bony;  vertebrse  separate,  simple,  with  the  centra  well 
ossified  and  opisthoccelous,  i.  e.,  connected  by  ball  and  socket  joints,  the 
concavity  of  each  vertebra  being  behind;  fins  without  spines;  ventral  fins 
abdominal;  a  cartilaginous  mesocoracoid;  opercular  skeleton  complete; 
maxillary  transversely  divided  into  several  pieces;  air-bladder  cellular,  lung- 
like,  opening  into  the  dorsal  side  of  the  oesophagus.  Fresh-water  fishes  of 
North  America.  A  single  living  family. 

FAMILY  LEPISOSTEID^l 

THE    GARPIKES 

Elongate,  subcylindrical  fishes  with  beak-like  jaws,  and  with  the  ex- 
ternal bones  of  the  head  hard  and  rugose;  body  covered  with  hard,  rhombic 
ganoid  plates,  imbricated  in  oblique  series;  skeleton  bony;  fins  with  fulcra; 
dorsal  posterior,  nearly  opposite  anal;  tail  heterocercal,  in  the  young  pro- 
duced as  a  filament  beyond  the  caudal  fin;  gills  4,  a  slit  behind  the  fourth; 
no  spiracles;  an  accessory  opercular  gill  (hyoidean  hemibranch);  pseudo- 
branch  exposed,  meeting  the  hemibranch  at  an  angle  on  the  inner  side  of 
the  opercle;  branchiostegals  3;  opercular  skeleton  complete;  nostrils  near 
end  of  upper  jaw;  lateral  line  developed;  optic  nerves  forming  a  chiasma; 
premaxillaries  forming  most  of  border  of  upper  jaw;  maxillary  transversely 
divided  into  several  pieces;  both  jaws  with  2  (or  3)  series  of  conical  teeth, 
the  outer  smaller;  vomer,  palatines,  and  pharyngeals  with  small  rasp-like 
denticles;  tongue  toothless,  emarginate,  free  at  tip;  stomach  not  csecal; 
pyloric  appendages  numerous;  spiral  valve  of  intestine  rudimentary;  air- 
bladder  cellular,  lung-like,  somewhat  functional  as  a  lung,  opening  into  the 
dorsal  side  of  the  oesophagus;  arterial  bulb  with  several  pairs  of  valves. 

Garpikes  are  abundant  throughout  the  Mississippi,  Rio 
Grande,  Great  Lake,  and  Appalachian  regions,  as  well  as  farther 
southward  along  the  Mexican  and  Central  American  coasts  and 
in  the  fresh  waters  of  Cuba.  They  are  unknown  (except  as 
fossils)  outside  of  the  limits  of  the  range  given,  being,  as  are 
Amia  (the  dogfish)  and  Polyodon  (the  paddle-fish),  one  of  the 
characteristic  features  of  the  American  fauna.  But  one  living 
genus  is  known.  Fossil  garpikes  of  the  genus  Lepisosteus  and 
of  a  related  genus  (Clastes)  have  been  found  in  the  Eocene  of 
Europe  and  America. 


LEPISOSTEUS GAEPIKES  31 

The  gars  are  voracious  fishes,  feeding  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent on  the  young  of  other  species.  They  have  no  appreciable 
commercial  value,  and  are  treated  as  a  nuisance  and  a  pest  by 
all  interested  in  the  fisheries. 


GENUS  LEPISOSTEUS  LACEPEDE 

GARPIKES 

Characters  of  the  genus  included  in  description  preceding. 
KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  LEPISOSTEUS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS. 

a.  Large  teeth  in  upper  jaw  in  a  single  row  on  each  side;   size  moderate,  length 

seldom  exceeding  four  feet. 

b.  Beak  long  and  slender,  its  least  width  about  20  in  its  length,   its  length   2.6 

to  3.4  in  distance  from  eye  to  caudal;  length  caudal  peduncle  1%  to  1% 
(or  even  twice)  greatest  depth  of  body osseus. 

bb.  Beak  shorter  and  broader,  its  least  width  about  5%  in  its  length,  its  length 
3.6  to  6  in  distance  from  eye  to  caudal;  length  caudal  peduncle  normally 
not  greater  than  greatest  depth  of  body platostomus. 

aa.  Large  teeth  in  upper  jaw  in  two  rows  on  each  side;  size  very  large,  length 
6  to  10  feet;  beak  short  and  broad,  variable,  its  least  width  3  to  5  in  its 
length tristoechus. 

LEPISOSTEUS  OSSEUS 

LONG-NOSED    GAR;    BILLF1SH 

(PL.,  p.  35;  MAP  V) 

Linnaeus,  1758,  Syst.  Nat.,  Ed.  10,  313  (Esox). 

G.,  VIII,  330   (Lepidosteus);   J.  &  G.,  91   (Lepidosteus) ;   M.  V.,  35;   J.  &  E.,  I,  109; 

N.,   51    (Lepidosteus);   J.,   68    (Lepidosteus);   F.,  85    (Lepidosteus);   F.  F.,  II.   7, 

464;  L.,  8. 

Size  large,  length  over  4  feet;  depth  10  to  13  in  length  including  beak, 
9  to  10  in  distance  from  eye  to  base  of  caudal;  length  of  caudal  peduncle  as 
a  rule  1^  to  ll/2  times,  sometimes  as  much  as  twice,  greatest  depth  of  body.* 
Color  pale  olive,  silvery  below;  vertical  fins  and  posterior  part  of  body  with 
round  black  spots,  more  distinct  in  the  young;  very  young  with  a  blackish 
lateral  band,  typically  narrow  and  not  extending  on  belly  as  in  L.  platostomus. 
Head  (including  beak)  2.7  to  3.1  in  length;  beak  long  and  narrow,  its  great- 
est width  about  6,  its  least  width  about  20  in  its  length;  length  of  beak  2.65 
to  3.40  in  distance  from  eye  to  caudal;  eye  large,  circular,  1.6  to  2.3  in  inter- 
orbital  space.  Dorsal  rays  8  or  9  (usually  8);  anal  rays  8  (sometimes  9); 
length  of  pectoral  8  to  9  in  distance  from  eye  to  caudal.  Scales  8  or  9,  60-63; 
6  or  7;  lateral  line  complete. 

*  We  have  found  this  the  most  reliable  single  character  for  separation  of  the  very  young 
of  this  species  and  the  next. 


32  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

This  voracious,  active,  and  well-protected  fish  is  a  notable 
winner  in  the  long  struggle  for  existence  which  its  species  has 
maintained,  but  it  is  a  wholly  worthless  and  destructive  nuisance 
in  its  relations  to  mankind.  It  is  the  enemy  of  practically  all 
the  other  fishes  in  our  waters,  and  so  far  as  it  eats  anything  but 
fishes,  it  subtracts  from  the  food  supply  of  the  more  valuable 
kinds.  It  has,  in  fact,  all  the  vices  and  none  of  the  virtues  of  a 
predaceous  fish.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  preyed  upon  by  nothing 
that  swims,  and  is  so  well  adapted  to  the  varied  features  and 
vicissitudes  of  its  habitat  that  it  is  proof  against  any  but  the 
most  extraordinary  occurrences. 

From  its  long  cylindrical  shape  and  its  activity  when 
alarmed,  it  is  not  as  likely  to  be  held  by  the  fishermen's  nets  as 
most  other  fishes  of  its  weight,  and  it  consequently  survives  on 
our  fishing  grounds  in  very  disproportionate  numbers,  and 
diminishes  their  average  productiveness  in  no  small  degree. 

It  is  distributed  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley  and 
Great  Lake  region  and  southward  into  Texas  and  Mexico.  It 
is  abundant  also  along  the  Atlantic  slope  as  far  north  as  New 
Jersey.  It  is  scarce  in  the  smaller  streams  and  is  generally  more 
abundant  southward.  It  grows  to  a  length  of  five  or  six  feet, 
and  is  so  variable  in  form  and  color  that  local  differences  have 
given  rise  to  a  considerable  number  of  scientific  synonyms.  In 
Illinois  it  is  abundant  and  widely  distributed,  occurring  in  all 
parts  of  the  state,  including  Lake  Michigan.  Our  35  collections 
were  made  from  14  localities,  from  Cairo  to  Chicago  and  the 
Rock  River  valley.  It  was  taken  in  9  of  our  collections  from 
large  rivers;  in  2  of  those  from  small  rivers;  in  4  from  creeks; 
and  in  15  from  lakes,  ponds,  and  sloughs. 

The  long-nosed  gar  frequents  quiet  waters,  being  especially 
abundant  in  those  more  or  less  stagnant.  It  occurs  on  both 
muddy  and  sandy  bottoms,  but  has  an  apparent  liking  for  logs 
and  piles  of  brush.  Although  never  moving  together  in  schools, 
gars  tend  to  assemble  in  large  numbers  within  limited  areas.  In 
winter  they  frequently  become  so  benumbed  as  to  be  almost  in- 
sensible to  their  surroundings.  They  are  of  a  sleepy  habit  and 
often  lie  motionless  for  a  long  time,  returning  persistently  to  the 
same  place  when  disturbed.  They  frequently  come  to  the  sur- 
face, and  thrusting  their  bills  out  of  the  water,  open  and  close 
their  jaws  with  a  snap.  This  is  the  act  of  " breaking "  so  familiar 
to  all  fishermen,  its  purpose  being  to  renew  the  air  in  the  cellular 
swim-bladder.  In  " breaking"  the  gar  turns  partly  over  on 


LEPISOSTEUS GARPIKES  33 

one  side,  emitting  a  large  bubble  of  air,  after  which  it  swallows 
and  then  sinks  again  below  the  surface.  This  habit  is  discon- 
tinued in  cold  weather,  however,  and  from  October  to  April 
gars  do  not  come  to  the  surface  to  breathe. 

The  gar  is  a  voracious  feeder  and  is  especially  destructive  to 
minnows  and  the  young  of  other  fishes.  The  stomachs  of  speci- 
mens examined  by  Dr.  Dean  contained  practically  nothing  but 
small  soft-rayed  fishes,  less  than  3^  inches  long.  Eleven  small 
minnows  were  taken  from  the  stomach  of  one  male  24  inches 
long,  and  16  from  the  stomach  and  pharynx  of  another  27  inches 
long.  No  perch  or  sunfish  were  found.  Sixteen  minute  min- 
nows have  been  taken  by  us  from  the  stomach  of  a  single  speci- 
men 2  inches  long,  while  other  young  specimens  examined,  had 
filled  themselves  with  water-fleas  (Scapholeberis  mucronata). 
The  gar  approaches  its  prey  stealthily,  and  its  attack  is  instan- 
taneous and  usually  successful.  Young  gars  have  been  observed 
to  approach  and  seize  minnows  sidewise  afterwards  struggling 
for  some  time  to  get  them  into  proper  position  for  swallowing — 
as  is  the  habit  of  lizards  and  alligators.  The  abundance*  and 
destructiveness  of  gars  in  particular  localities  have  recently  led 
to  serious  efforts  at  extermination,  and  pound-nets  have  been 
found  quite  useful  for  this  purpose. f 

The  long-nosed  gar  spawns  in  this  latitude  between  the 
middle  of  May  and  the  middle  of  June,  the  time  at  Havana,  Illi- 
nois, being  ordinarily  from  June  1  to  12  It  is  known  to  spawn 
in  shoal  water,  usually  in  grass  and  weeds,  but  Captain  Schulte, 
of  Havana,  has  seen  gars  spawning  about  the  stone  piles  of  rail- 
road bridges  under  construction  at  Havana.  Young  gars  were 
reared  by  Dr.  Mark,  who  found  that  they  could  be  maintained 
entirely  on  the  larvae  of  mosquitoes.  They  are  extremely  in- 
teresting, and  even  beautiful,  little  animals,  each  marked  with  a 
broad  black  lateral  band;  and  they  are  especially  noticeable  for 
the  evanescent  lance-shaped  upper  lobe  to  the  caudal  fin.  They 
may  often  be  seen  swimming  singly  in  shallow  water  along  the 
margins  of  streams  in  June  and  July.  Their  earliest  food  is 
apparently  Entomostraca,  but  they  begin  at  a  surprisingly  early 
age  their  life  work  of  keeping  down  the  fish  population  of  the 
waters  they  inhabit.  A  specimen  only  an  inch  and  a  quarter 
long,  examined  by  us,  had  taken  a  minute  fish,  and  another  two 

*  It  is  stated  by  Dr.  Dean  that  garpikes  have  been  known  to  occur  in  such  numbers  in 
South  Carolina  as  to  fill  the  shad  nets  and  interrupt  the  shad  fishery  for  many  days. 

f  By  their  use,  Chautauqua  Lake,  N.  Y.,  was  practically  freed  from  gars  in  1896-97. 


34  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

inches  long  and  only  an  eighth  of  an  inch  in  depth  had  filled 
itself  with  no  fewer  than  sixteen  very  young  minnows. 

Gars  are  of  practically  no  commercial  value.  Rafinesque 
says  that  their  flesh  may  be  eaten  and  describes  the  method  of 
skinning— by  splitting  in  a  zigzag  line  between  the  bony  plates. 
Dr.  Dean  has  seen  gars,  with  the  bill  cut  off  and  the  skin  re- 
moved, exposed  for  sale  in  the  markets  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
They  are,  however,  almost  universally  thrown  away  by  fisher- 
men, and  by  most  their  destruction  is  rightly  sought  by  all  means 
that  offer.  Gar  skins  have  been  used  to  a  small  extent  in  the 
arts,  for  covering  picture  frames,  purses,  and  fancy  boxes,  the 
rhombic  plates  being  very  hard*  and  taking  a  fine  polish.  A 
very  few  skins  are  saved  for  this  purpose  each  year. 

LEPISOSTEUS  PLATOSTOMUS  EAFINESQUE 

SHORT-NOSED   GAR 

(MAP  VI) 

Rafinesque,  '20,  Ichth.  Oh.,  72. 

G.,  VIII,  329   (platystomus);   J.   &  G.,  91   (platystomus) ;    M.  V.,   36   (platystomus) ; 

J.  &  E.,  I,  110;  N.,  51  (platystomus);  J.,  69  (platystomus);  F.,  85  (platystomus); 

F.  F.,  II.  7,  464  (platystomus);  L.,  8. 

Length  2  to  3  feet;  depth  8  to  10  in  length  including  beak,  6.7  to  8.2 
(usually  less  than  7.5  )in  distance  from  eye  to  base  of  caudal;  length  of  caudal 
peduncle  normally  equal  to  greatest  depth  of  body.  Color  dark  olive-green 
above,  lighter  toward  lateral  line;  sides  lustrous  olive-buff,  shading  to  light 
olive-yellow  toward  tail;  belly  white,  the  scales  edged  with  fine  dark  dots; 
an  evident  dark  spot  and  usually  two  or  three  fainter  ones  on  caudal  peduncle; 
fins  olive-buff,  dorsal,  caudal,  and  anal  each  with  several  more  or  less  dis- 
tinct roundish  black  spots  (more  distinct  in  young) ;  iris  crossed  by  a  dusky 
band  which  also  crosses  the  opercle  and  is  continuous  with  a  broad  but  faint 
lateral  band;  coloration  of  very  young  (1  to  3  inches)  generally  much  darker 
than  in  the  preceding  species,  the  black  side  stripe  broad  and  extended  more 
or  less  completely  to  belly.  Head  (including  beak)  3  to  3.9  in  length;  beak 
comparatively  short  and  broad,  its  greatest  width  about  2%  and  its  least 
width  about  5^  in  its  length;  length  of  beak  contained  3.6  to  5.3  times  in 
distance  from  eye  to  caudal;  eye  2  to  2.4  in  interorbital  space.  Dorsal  rays 
8;  anal  8  (occasionally  9);  length  of  pectorals  7  to  8  in  distance  from  eye  to 
caudal.  Scales  9  or  10,  60-64,  6  or  7;  a  specimen  (Ac.  No.  24416)  3  inches 
long  with  lateral  pores  forming  an  open  groove  on  posterior  half  of  body. 

The  short-nosed  gar  is  generally  common  throughout  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  being  most  abundant,  as  is  the  preceding 
species,  in  the  southern  part  of  its  range.  It  is  distributed  in 

*  It  is  said  that  breastplates  formerly  made  from  gar  skins  by  Caribbean  savages  would 
turn  a  knife,  spear,  or  hatchet.  (Rep.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1902.) 


1 


LEPISOSTEUS GAKPIKES  35 

Illinois  about  as  L.  osseus,  occurring  in  57  collections,  from  Rock 
River,  the  Illinois,  the  Mississippi,  and  the  Ohio.  It  is  locally 
known  by  Illinois  River  fishermen  as  the  " duck-bill  gar," 
though  the  name  " short-billed  gar"  is  commoner. 

The  spawning  season  at  Havana  in  1898  was  May,  while  in 
1899  it  continued  until  August.  Females  with  spent  ovaries 
were  taken  as  early  as  May  10  by  Dr.  Kofoid  in  1899.  The  habits 
of  this  gar  are  not  otherwise  known  to  be  different  from  those  of 
the  preceding  species. 


LEPISOSTEUS  TRISTCECHUS   (BLOCK  &  SCHNEIDER) 

ALLIGATOR-GAR 

Bloch  &  Schneider,  1801,  Syst.  Ichth.,  395   (Esox). 

G.,  VIII,  329   (viridis);   J.  &  G.,  92   (Litholepis) ;    M.  V.,  36;   J.  &  E.,  I,  111;   N.,  51 
(adamanteus);  J.,  69  (Litholepis  spathula);  F.,  84  (Litholepis);  L.,  8. 

Length  5  to  8  feet;  depth  in  length  8,  in  distance  from  eye  to  caudal  7; 
length  of  caudal  peduncle  rather  less  than  depth  of  body.  Color  greenish, 
paler  below,  adult  usually  without  spots.  Head  (including  beak)  3.7  in 
length ;  beak  typically  somewhat  shorter  and  broader  than  in  L.  platostomus, 
its  length  about  5.3  in  distance  from  eye  to  caudal,  its  least  width  about  4J/2 
in  its  length.  Dorsal  rays  8;  anal  8.  Lateral  line  56;  transverse  series  22. 
Description  based  on  a  mounted  specimen  6  feet  6^  inches  in  length  to  base 
of  caudal,  owned  by  Mr.  Sherman  Reubel,  Grafton  111.  Specimen  7  ft.  2 
in.  long  in  State  Museum  at  Springfield.  Specimen  5  ft.  6  in.  long  in  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois  Museum. 

The  home  of  the  alligator-gar  is  in  the  streams  of  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  from  Mexico  to  Cuba.  It  ascends  the  Mississippi  above 
St.  Louis,  and  has  occasionally  been  taken  in  the  lower  Illinois 
River.  It  is  said  by  Dr.  Jordan  to  reach  a  length  of  20  feet. 

Little  is  definitely  known  of  the  habits  of  this  species. 
Many  stories  have  been  told  of  its  gigantic  size  and  ferocious 
and  uncanny  habits,  some  of  them  doubtless  more  or  'ess  fanci- 
ful. A  picturesque  and  valuable  account  of  the  habits  of  the 
alligator-gar  by  Geo.  P.  Dunbar,  a  Southern  naturalist,  may  be 
consulted  in  the  American  Naturalist  for  May,  1882,  pp.  383-385. 
Its  size  and  strength  are  such  that  the  ordinary  apparatus  of 
the  river  fisherman  will  not  hold  it  unless  it  chances  to  be  caught 
at  some  unusual  disadvantage,  and  it  is  consequently  rather 
rarely  seen.  Its  powers  of  destruction  must  be  enormous,  and 
it  seems  to  take,  in  the  fresh  waters  of  the  country,  the  place 
filled  by  sharks  in  the  high  seas  It  was  formerly  made  into  oil, 


36  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

by  the  people  of  Arkansas,  for  use  as  a  lotion  to  prevent  attack 
by  the  buffalo-gnat.  Dr.  Meek  saw  numbers  of  this  species  in 
the  markets  at  Tampico,  Mexico,  where  it  was  regarded  as  a 
good  food-fish. 


ORDER    CYCLOGANOIDEA  37 


ORDER  CYCLOGANOIDEA 

Skeleton  bony;  vertebrae  amphicoelous,  as  usual  among  fishes,  the  an- 
terior ones  not  modified;  fins  without  spines;  ventrals  abdominal;  a  meso- 
coracoid;  opercular  skeleton  complete;  maxillary  bordering  mouth,  not 
transversely  segmented;  air-bladder  cellular,  lung-like,  opening  into  oesoph- 
agus. Fresh-water  fishes  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  A  single 
living  genus  and  family. 


FAMILY  AMIID^E 


THE    BOWFINS 

Oblong,  subcylindrical  fishes,  compressed  posteriorly,  and  with  the  head 
bluntish  and  its  external  bones  corrugated  and  very  hard,  scarcely  covered 
by  skin;  body  covered  with  cycloid  scales;  skeleton  bony;  fins  without  spines 
or  fulcra;  dorsal  fin  long  and  low;  tail  slightly  heterocercal;  gills  4,  a  slit 
behind  the  fourth;  no  spiracles;  no  pseudobranch  and  no  opercular  gill; 
branchiostegals  10  to  12;  opercular  skeleton  complete;  throat  with  two 
peculiar  comb-like  appendages  of  uncertain  function;  nostrils  double,  the 
anterior  with  a  short  barbel;  lateral  line  developed;  optic  nerves  forming  a 
chiasma;  jaws  equal,  the  lower  U-shaped,  with  a  bony  gular  plate  between 
the  rami;  premaxillary  not  protractile;  jaws  and  palatines  with  strong  conical 
teeth;  vomer  and  pterygoids  with  bands  of  small  teeth;  stomach  with  blind 
sac;  no  pyloric  cgeca;  intestine  with  a  rudimentary  spiral  valve;  air-bladder 
cellular,  bifid  in  front,  lung-like,  connected  by  a  glottis  with  the  pharynx, 
and  capable  of  assisting  in  respiration. 

These  fishes  are  remarkable  for  the  simultaneous  occurrence 
of  primitive  ganoid  characters — the  cellular  air-bladder,  spiral 
valve,  gular  plate,  etc. — along  with  marked  features  of  resem- 
blance to  the  modern  isospondylous  forms  (herring  and  their 
allies).  The  species  next  described  is  the  sole  surviving  rep- 
resentative of  a  once  large  family,  chiefly  represented  to-day 
by  numerous  fossils.  The  Amiidce  first  appeared  in  the  Upper 
Jurassic  of  France  and  Bavaria  (genus  Megalurus),  and  fossil- 
ized remains  of  Amia  occur  in  the  Eocene  of  northern  Europe 
and  North  America.  The  latter  genus  apparently  became 
extinct  in  Europe  at  the  close  of  the  Lower  Miocene. 


38  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

GENUS  AMIA  LINN^IUS 

DOGFISH;  BOWFINS 

Characters  of  the  genus  included  in  description  preceding. 
AMIA  CALVA  LINN^US 

DOGFISH;  BOWFIN;  GRINDLE 
(PL.  P.  36;  MAP  VII) 

Linnseus,  1766,  Syst.  Nat.,  Ed.  12,  500. 

G.,  VIII,   325;    J.  &  G..  94;   M.  V.,  37;    J.  &  E.,  I,  113;    N.,  51;    J.,  68;    F.,   84;    P.  F., 
II,  7,  463;  L...  8. 

Length  1^4  to  2  feet,  females  larger  than  males;  body  oblong,  com- 
pressed posteriorly,  back  scarcely  elevated;  depth  4.6  to  6.2  in  length;  caudal 
peduncle  deep  and  compressed,  its  depth  1.6  to  1.8  in  its  length.  Color 
dark  olive,  somewhat  lustrous  above,  lighter  on  sides  and  below,  the  mingling 
of  lighter  yellowish  with  darker  olive  areas  giving  the  fish  a  more  or  less 
reticulated  appearance;  belly  cream-colored;  dorsal  fin  dark  olive-buff,  with 
two  narrow  longitudinal  bands  of  darker  olive  crossing  it,  the  first  near 
base  and  second  near  free  margin,  a  light  space  intervening  between  the  two 
dark  bands ;  caudal  light  olive  with  irregular  darker  vertical  bars ;  at  base  of 
upper  caudal  rays  in  males  a  dense  black  spot*  of  elliptical  outline  with  a 
yellowish  to  bright  orange  border;  anal,  ventral,  and  pectoral  fins  a  brilliant 
apple-green,  base  and  tips  often  tinged  with  orange;  females  in  spring  color 
are  in  general  tones  similar  to  males,  but  lack  the  caudal  ocellus,  the  green 
lower  fins,  and  the  yellowish  tints  on  the  fins  and  sides  of  belly,  their  lower 
fins  being  dull  olive-buff  and  the  belly  white;  young  specimens  are  lighter, 
bright  apple-green,  with  dorsal  and  caudal  tipped  with  a  narrow  black  edging, 
and  nose,  eye,  cheek,  and  opercle  crossed  by  a  narrow  dusky  stripe.  Head 
subconic,  depressed  above,  3.5  to  4.3  in  length;  width  of  head  1.6  to  1.8  in 
its  length;  interorbital  space  3.2  to  3.8  in  length  of  head;  eye  small,  8.8  to 
10.3  in  head,  2.4  to  .3  in  interorbital;  nose  bluntly  rounded,  3.2  to  4.3  in  head; 
a  pair  of  short  nasal  barbels,  whose  length  is  less  than  eye,  cupped  at 
tips ;  mouth  large,  maxillary  reaching  far  back  of  eye,  2  to  2.2  in  head.  Dorsal 
fin  with  base  twice  the  length  of  the  head,  the  rays  47  to  51,  height  of  dorsal 
less  than  %  length  of  head;  anal  rays  9-10;  caudal  fin  rounded  (masked 
heterocercal) ;  ventrals  short  of  anal;  pectorals  very  short,  1.7  to  1.9  in  head. 
Scales  "polygono-cycloid,"  9  or  10,  66-68,  11  or  12;  lateral  line  complete. 

This  species  is  abundant  and  widely  distributed  through- 
out the  Great  Lake  region  and  the  Mississippi  Valley,  princi- 
pally in  sluggish  waters.  In  Illinois  it  is  abundant  in  sloughs 
and  lakes  adjoining  the  Mississippi  and  the  Illinois,  and  is 
found  in  the  larger  and  more  sluggish  streams  of  the  southern 
part  of  the  state.  It  is  not  so  abundant  northward.  Eight  of 

*A  faint  candal  ocellus,  apt  to  be  overlooked,  is  present  in  females. 


AIIIA — DOGFISH;  BOWFIXS  39 

our  37  collections  came  from  large  rivers,  14  from  lakes,  ponds, 
and  sloughs,  and  but  4  from  creeks. 

The  usual  local  name  of  this  species  is  " dogfish"  in  the 
Great  Lake  region  and  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley.  It  is 
known  eastward  and  southward  oftener  as  "bowfin,"  or 
"grindle,"  the  latter  becoming  "grinnel"  in  southern  Illinois. 
It  has  been  found  by  our  collectors  offered  for  sale  by  hucksters 
as  " prairie-bass "  in  southern  Illinois.  The  name  "mudfish" 
is  sometimes  used  eastward,  and  that  of  mud-jack,  locally  in 
Illinois.  It  is  of  general  distribution  in  rivers,  lakes,  and 
swamps,  but  is  most  abundant  in  weedy  waters.  It  seems  to 
prefer  rather  shallow  water,  where,  according  to  Dr.  Reighard, 
it  feeds  principally  at  night,  retreating  to  somewhat  deeper 
water  during  the  day.  Dr.  Ayres*  found  it  in  winter  in  Ocono- 
mowoc  Lake,  Wisconsin,  in  closely  huddled  schools  in  gravelly 
pockets  among  water  weeds,  so  close  together  that,  two  at  a 
time  could  be  impaled  on  a  fish  spear.  In  the  early  spring  of 
1894,  when  a  rise  in  the  Illinois  River  loosened  and  lifted  the 
icy  covering  of  the  stream,  a  belt  of  open  water  between  the  ice 
and  the  shore  was  thickly  packed,  in  places,  with  dogfish,  so 
sluggish  with  the  cold  that  they  could  be  caught  with  the  bare 
hands.  In  spring  and  summer  these  fishes  are  frequently  seen 
to  come  to  the  surface  to  breathe,  the  exhalation  being  indicated 
by  the  escape  of  bubbles  of  air. 

The  teeth  of  the  dogfish  are  sharp  and  strong  and  it  is 
exceedingly  voracious  and  savage,  feeding  upon  any  animals 
that  come  within  its  reach — chiefly  fish,  crawfish,  and  mollusks. 

The  food  of  21  specimens,  taken  from  all  parts  of  the  state 
in  various  months  from  April  to  September,  was  entirely  ani- 
mal— about  a  third  of  it  fishes,  among  which  were  recognized 
minnows  and  buffalo-fish.  About  a  fourth  consisted  of  small 
mollusks,  and  nearly  40  per  cent,  of  it  of  crawfishes.  Insects, 
although  commonly  present,  occurred  in  only  insignificant  ratio. 
Dr.  Dean  found  scraps  of  meat  and  a  lump  of  raw  potato  in  the 
stomach  of  one  of  these  fishes,  but  the  latter  was  undigested. 
Charles  Hallock  (quoted  by  Dr.  Goode)t  says  that  an  Amia  has 
been  known  to  bite  a  two-pound  fish  in  two  at  a  single  snap. 

The  breeding  period!  of  the  dogfish  is  from  April  1  to  June 
1  or  July  1,  varying  with  the  season  and  the  latitude.  It 

*  Quoted  by  Whitman  &  Eycleshymer. 
f  Nat.  Hist.  Aq.  An.,  p.  569. 

j  April  19  to  June  1,  estimate  of  average  for  four  years  (Reighard);     April-May  (Whitman 
&  Eycleshymer). 


40  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

spawned  at  Havana  in  1898  between  May  1  and  15,  and  in  1899 
until  July  31.  Dr.  Kofoid  took  freshly  spent  females  June  14, 
1899.  Its  nests  were  found  by  Dr.  Reighard*  in  quiet  bays  or 
inlets,  usually  well  grown  with  vegetation,  places  with  stumps, 
roots,  and  logs  seeming  to  be  selected  as  a  rule.  The  male 
builds  the  nest,  usually  at  night,  and  probably  unassisted  by 
the  female.  For  this  purpose  the  vegetation  is  rubbed  or  bitten 
off  and  the  loose  rubbish  brushed  away  with  the  tail  and  fins, 
leaving  a  bed  of  soft  rootlets  or  of  sand  or  gravel  for  the  eggs. 
Spawning  takes  place  more  frequently  at  night  than  by  day,  the 
male  guarding  the  nest  after  the  eggs  are  laid.  The  eggs  hatch 
in  8  to  10  days,  according  to  temperature,  and  the  young  re- 
main in  the  nest  about  9  days,  attaching  themselves  to  rootlets 
by  the  adhesive  organ  on  the  snout,  or  lying  on  their  sides  in  the 
bottom  of  the  nest.  After  they  leave  the  nest  the  male  ac- 
companies and  defends  the  young,  which  move  in  a  compact 
school  until  they  reach  a  length  of  about  4  inches.  The  young, 
like  those  of  the  gar,  have  at  first  a  lance-shaped  temporary 
caudal  fin,  beneath  which  the  permanent  caudal  develops,  at 
first  as  an  inferior  lobe. 

This  fish  is  very  little  esteemed  as  food,  the  flesh  being  soft 
and  pasty.  It  is  said  to  vary  in  quality,  however,  according  to 
the  waters  from  which  it  is  taken.  The  negroes  of  the  South 
eat  it  with  great  relish  (Goode),  and  it  is  often  eaten  also  in 
Southern  Indiana  and  southern  Illinois  by  the  whites.  It  is 
thrown  away  as  a  rule  at  Alton  (Ashlock),  but  is  saved  by 
practically  all  of  the  Illinois  River  fishermen,  by  whom  it  is 
shipped  to  the  cities,  both  east  and  west.  Some  large  ship- 
ments from  Havana  have  been  made  to  New  York  City  markets. 
The  Illinois  River  furnishes  very  nearly  the  total  product 
marketed  in  the  United  States.  In  1903  a  catch  of  1,097,050 
Ib,  valued  at  $10,972,  was  taken  from  this  river  and  its  tribu- 
taries, the  Mississippi  and  minor  tributaries  furnishing  the  same 
year  only  8,200  Ib. 

This  species  is  as  gamy  as  voracious,  and  is 'extremely 
tenacious  of  life,  being  "one  of  the  hardest  fighters  that  ever 
took  the  hook."  Charles  Hallock,  as  quoted  by  Goode,  says 
that  it  will  take  frogs,  minnows,  and  sometimes  even  the  spoon, 
while  Dr.  Dean  is  authority  for  the  statement  that  trolling  for 
bowfish  is  becoming  a  favorite  sport  of  some  eastern  anglers. 
The  young,  of  about  6  inches  length,  are  said  by  Hallock  to 

*  The  following  account  of  breeding  habits  is  mainly  taken  from  Reighard  ('00  and  '01). 


AMIA — DOGFISH;  BOWFINS  41 

make  excellent  bait  for  pickerel  and  pike,  living  for  hours  on  the 
hook.  They  can  be  kept  "in  a  rain  barrel  all  summer  without 
change  of  water." 

The  hardiness  of  this  fish  and  its  willing  endurance  of  con- 
ditions fatal  to  most  species  give  it  a  predominance  in  our 
waters,  which,  combined  with  its  numbers,  activity,  voracity, 
and  wide  range  of  food,  make  it,  on  the  whole,  a  dangerous  and 
destructive  enemy  to  our  fisheries.  The  time  will  doubtless 
come  when  thoroughgoing  measures  will  be  taken  to  keep  down 
to  the  lowest  practicable  limit  the  dogfish  and  the  gars — as 
useless  and  destructive  in  our  productive  waters  as  wolves  and 
foxes  formerly  were  in  our  pastures  and  poultry-yards. 


42  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


ORDER  ISOSPONDYLI 

HERRING-,    SHAD-,    AND    SALMON-LIKE    FISHES 

Skeleton  bony;  anterior  vertebrae  simple,  without  Weberian  ossicles; 
dorsal  and  anal  fins  without  spines;  ventrals  abdominal;  an  adipose  fin 
present  in  some  families;  pectoral  arch  suspended  from  the  skull;  meso- 
coracoid  arch  well  developed,  as  in  the  Plectospondyli  and  the  ganoids,  form- 
ing a  bridge  between  the  hypercoracoid  and  the  hypocoracoid :  opercle  well 
developed;  maxillary  distinct,  forming  part  of  the  margin  of  the  upper  jaw; 
air-bladder,  if  present,,  with  an  open  duct;  gills  4,  a  slit  behind  the  fourth, 
as  normally  in  bony  fishes. 

A  large  and  widely  distributed  group,  including  most  of  the 
marine  soft-rayed  fishes,  excepting  deep-sea  forms  and  a  limited 
number  of  fresh-water  species.  Families  numerous;  4  repre- 
sented in  Illinois.  Members  of  some  families  possess  strong 
ganoid  affinities,  a  gular  plate  and  two  transverse  series  of 
arterial  valves  occurring  in  Albula.  Fossil  remains  abundant. 


KEY  TO  FAMILIES  OF  ISOSPONDYLI  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  No  adipose  fin;    belly  narrow,  carinated;    silvery  fishes. 

b.  Lateral  line  present Hiodontidae. 

bb.  Lateral  line  wanting. 

c.  Last  rays  of  dorsal  much  elongated;   mouth  small,  low Dorosomidae. 

cc.  Dorsal  fin  normal,  its  last  rays  not  elongate  (elongate  in  some  marine  forms); 

mouth   large,   terminal,   oblique Cl upeldae. 

aa.     An  adipose  fin;   belly  not  carinated Salmonidae. 


FAMILY  HIODONTID>£ 

THE    MOONEYES 

Body  rather  deep  and  much  compressed,  covered  with  silvery  cycloid 
scales;  head  naked;  belly  not  serrate;  lateral  line  developed;  skeleton  bony; 
vertebrae  about  60,  the  anterior  not  modified,  ventral  fins  abdominal ;  dorsal 
fin  rather  posterior;  no  adipose  fin;  caudal  forked;  mesocoracoid  present; 
gill-membranes  free  from  isthmus;  branchiostegals  8  to  10;  pseudobranchia3 
obsolete;  gill-rakers  few,  short,  and  thick;  adipose  eyelid  little  developed; 
mouth  terminal,  oblique;  premaxillary  not  protractile;  maxillary-  small, 


HIODON — MOONEYES  43 

articulated  to  end  of  premaxillary  and  forming  lateral  margin  of  upper  jaw; 
sidss  of  lower  jaw  fitting  within  the  upper  so  that  the  dentaries  shut  against 
the  palatines;  premaxillaries,  maxillaries,  and  dentaries,  vomer,  palatines, 
sphenoid,  pterygoids,  and  tongue  with  small  cardiform  teeth;  stomach 
horseshoe-shaped,  without  blind  sac;  one  pyloric  caecum;  air-bladder  large, 
with  open  duct;  no  oviducts,  the  eggs  falling  into  the  abdominal  cavity 
before  exclusion. 

Fresh  waters  of  North  America;  a  single  genus  known.     The 
species  are  of  little  value  as  food. 


GENUS  HIODON  LE  SUEUR 

MOONEYES 

Characters  of  genus  included  above.     Three  species;  two   found  in 
Illinois. 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  HIODON  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.     Belly   in   front   of  ventrals   carinated;    dorsal  with   9   developed   rays,   inserted 

behind  ventrals;   eye  less  than  interorbital  space alosoides. 

aa.     Belly  in  front  of  ventrals  not  carinated;   dorsal  with  11  or  12  developed  rays, 
inserted  in  front  of  ventrals;  eye  greater  than  interorbital  space...  .tergisus. 

HIODON  ALOSOIDES  (EAFINESQUE) 

NORTHERN   MOONEYE 

Raflnesque,  1819,  .1.  Phys.,  421   (Amphiodon  alveoides,  misprint). 

J.  &  G.,  259  (Hyodon);   M.  V.,  69;   J.  &  E.,  I,  413;   F.,  74  (Hyodon);   L.,  20. 

Length  12  inches;  body  greatly  compressed, 
greatest  width  often  3  in  adults;  depth  in  length  3.3  to 
3.7;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.1  to  1.4  in  its  length. 
Color  bluish  above;  sides  and  belly  silvery  with  more 
or  less  golden  luster  forward  and  bluish  to  pinkish 
farther  back.  Head  4.5  to  4.9;  width  head  1.9  to  2.1 
in  its  length;  interorbital  space  3.6  to  4  in  head;  eye 
3.6  to  4;  nose  4.9  to  5.9,  more  noticeably  upturned 
than  in  the  next  species;  mouth  large,  maxillary  reach-  FIG.  11 

ing  past  middle  of  orbit,  1.9  to  2.1  in  head.     Dorsal 

fin  with  9  developed  rays,  inserted  behind  front  of  anal;  anal  rays  31 ;  ventrals 
very  short,  about  1%  in  head;  pectorals  longer  than  in  the  next  species, 
1.1  to  1.2  in  head.  Scales  6,  56-58,  7  or  8;  lateral  line  complete. 

This  rather  large  and  handsome  silver-coated  fish  is  now  too 
rare  in  Illinois  to  have  any  especial  significance  in  our  waters. 


44  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Some  years  ago  it  was  much  more  abundant  than  now  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  the  Ohio,  as  many  as  a  thousand  pounds  at  a  time 
having  been  caught,  according  to  Mr.  Ashlock,  from  the  former 
river  near  Alton  and  the  latter  at  Cairo.  This  species  ranges 
from  the  Ohio  through  the  Great  Lake  region  to  the  Saskatch- 
ewan, becoming  especially  abundant  in  Manitoba  and  other 
parts  of  British  America.  Our  nine  collections  came  from  the 
Illinois  River  at  Meredosia  and  Havana,  excepting  one,  which 
was  from  the  Ohio  at  Cairo.  It  is  found  only  in  our  largest 
streams,  and  is  commonest  in  rather  swift  open  water.  It  is 
readily  caught  when  plentiful  by  minnow  bait,  and  is  a  very 
gamy  fish,  although  of  little  value  as  food.  It  lives  mainly  on 
both  terrestrial  and  aquatic  insects,  mollusks,  and  small  min- 
nows. It  is  said  by  Illinois  fishermen  to  be  frequently  seen  pur- 
suing its  minnow  prey  at  evening  in  the  vicinity  of  their  boats. 

HIODON  TERGISUS  LE  SUEUR 
TOOTHED  HERRING;  MOONEYE 

Le  Sueur,  1818,  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  366. 

G.,  VII,  375   (Hyodon);    J.   &  G.,  260    (Hyodon);   M.  V.,  69;    J.   &  E.,  I,  413;    N.  44 
(Hyodon);  J.,  54  (Hyodon);  F.,  74  (Hyodon);  F.  F.,  I.  2.  79,  II.  7,  440;  I/.,  20. 

Length  10  or  12  inches;  body  somewhat  less  com- 
pressed than  in  the  last  species,  greatest  width  not 
over  !2l/2  in  depth;  depth  in  length  3  to  3.3;  depth  caudal 
peduncle  1.4  in  its  length.  Color  pale  olive-buff  above 
with  faint  steel-blue  luster;  sides  silvery,  lustrous, 
white  at  the  ventral  edge.  Head  4  to  4.4  in  length; 
width  head  2  to  2.] ;  interorbital  space  3.9  to  4;  eye 
2.8  to  3.6  in  head;  nose  4.  to  5.5;  mouth  slightly  smaller 
FIG.  12  than  in  the  last,  maxillary  falling  short  of  middle  of 

orbit,  2.1  to  2.5  in  head.  Dorsal  fin  with  11  or  12 

developed  rays,  inserted  in  front  of  anal.    Scales  5  or  6,  55,  7;  lateral  line 

complete. 

The  toothed  herring — a  name  given  this  species  by  way  of 
contrast  with  the  "  thread-herring "  or  gizzard-shad  (Dorosoma) 
— has  been  taken  by  us  only  some  half  dozen  times  in  Illinois, 
and  then  only  in  the  Rock  and  Illinois  rivers.  It  ranges  from 
the  Ohio  River  north  and  west  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  the 
Assiniboin,  and  the  Saskatchewan.  It  is  very  abundant  in 
Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio,  where  large  numbers  are  sometimes 
caught  with  the  seine.  It  feeds  on  insects  and  their  larvae, 
mollusks,  and  small  minnows.  It  is  a  vigorous  biter,  and  gamy 


DOROSOMID.E — THE  GIZZAED-SHAD  45 

on  the  hook.  Dr.  Estes  says  that  it  will  rise  to  the  fly,  coming 
up  for  it,  testing  it,  and  getting  away  again  almost  before  the 
angler  can  strike.  It  seems  not  to  be  valued  as  food,  and  is  too 
rare  in  our  waters  to  have  any  commercial  importance. 

FAMILY  DOROSOMID4E 

THE    GIZZARD-SHAD 

Body  short  and  deep  and  much  compressed,  covered  'with  thin  cycloid 
scales;  head  naked;  belly  sharp-edged,  armed  with  bony  serratures;  no 
lateral  line;  skelton  bony;  vertebra?  49;  anterior  vertebra?  not  modified; 
ventral  fins  abdominal;  dorsal  about  midway  of  body,  its  last  ray  prolonged 
and  filiform;  no  adipose  fin;  pectorals  and  ventrals  with  an  accessory  scale; 
caudal  forked;  mesocoracoid  present;  gill-membranes  free  from  isthmus; 
branchiostegals  about  6;  gill-rakers  slender  and  exceedingly  numerous; 
pseudobranchiye  large;  adipose  eyelid  present;  mouth  rather  inferior,  oblique; 
premaxillary  non-protractile;  maxillary  with  supplemental  bone,  narrow  and 
short,  forming  but  a  small  portion  of  the  lateral  margin  of  the  upper  jaw; 
no  teeth;  stomach  short,  muscular,  like  the  gizzard  of  a  fowl. 

Coasts  and  rivers  of  warm  regions;  two  genera  in  American 
waters.     Thin-bodied,  bony  fishes,  of  little  value  as  food. 

GENUS    DOROSOMA   EAFINESQUE 

GIZZARD-SHAD 

Characters  of  genus  included  above.  Lower  Mississippi  Valley  and 
streams  of  Gulf  coast  as  far  south  as  Yucatan.  A  single  species  found  in 
the  waters  of  Illinois. 

DOROSOMA  CEPEDIANUM  (LE  SUEUE) 
GIZZARD-SHAD;  HICKORY-SHAD 

(PL.,  p.  46;  MAP  VIII) 

Le  Sueur,  1818,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  361  (Megalops). 

G.,  VII,  409  (Chatoessus);  J.  &  G.,  271;   M.  V.,  74;   J.  &  E.,  I,  416;   N.,  44  (notatum); 
J.,  55;   F.,  73;   F.  F.,  I.  2,  79   (var.  heterurum) ;   II.  7,  437,  II.  8,  528,  ff;   L.  20. 

Length  usually  not  over  12  inches*;  body  deep  and  considerably  com- 
pressed, depth  2.6  to  2.9  in  length;  greatest  width  3^  in  depth  in  adults; 
caudal  peduncle  short  and  deep,  its  depth  in  its  length  1.1  to  1.3  Color 
silvery,  bluish  above,  with  reddish  and  brassy  reflections;  a  large  dark  spot 
behind  opercle  in  the  young;  fins  more  or  less  dusky.  Head  deep -posteriorly 

*  Specimens  15  to  18  inches,  weighing  about  3  pounds,  occasionally  taken  from  the  Mississippi 
at  Alton.     (PI.  L.  Ashlock.) 


46  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

and  tapering  forward,  3.7  to  4.3  in  length;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.2  in  its 
length;  interorbital  greater  than  eye,  3.6  to  4.3  in  head;  eye  3.4  to  4.8  in 
head;  nose  shorter  than  eye,  4.9  to  6.1  in  head;  mouth  small,  more  or  less 
inferior,  extending  little  back  of  front  of  eye;  maxillary  3.4  to  4.2  in  head; 
lower  jaw  shorter  than  upper.  Dorsal  fin  about  midway  between  muzzle 
and  base  of  caudal,  slightly  behind  ventrals,  of  12  rays;  last  dorsal  ray  greatly 
elongated,  extending  past  middle  of  anal;  anal  rays  30  or  31;  pectorals  1.2 
to  1.5  in  head;  ventrals  half  way  to  front  of  anal  in  adults.  Scales  56  to 
57,  transverse  series  23;  no  lateral  line;  ventral  scutes  19  (before  ventrals), 
12  or  13  (behind  ventrals). 

This  immensely  abundant  species,  although  little  esteemed 
as  a  food  fish,  is  one  of  the  most  useful  in  our  waters  because  of 
the  almost  exhaustless  food  supply  which  it  offers  to  all  the 
game  fishes  of  our  larger  streams  and  lowland  lakes.  Living 
itself  mainly  upon  food  derived  from  the  muddy  bottoms  of  our 
very  muddy  rivers  and  lakes,  it  serves  as  a  means  of  converting 
this  mere  waste  of  nature  into  the  flesh  of  our  most  highly 
valued  fishes. 

For  this  service  it  is  especially  adapted  by  the  possession  of 
a  very  effective  straining  apparatus  in  its  gills,  by  means  of 
which  it  separates  the  finest  particles  of  silt  from  objects  large 
enough  to  serve  it  as  food,  and  by  the  extraordinary  develop- 
ment of  its  digestive  surface  in  a  long  and  convoluted  small 
intestine,  thickly  beset  with  finger-like  villi  within,  and  with 
tubular  caeca  without,  each  of  which  is  closed  at  its  outer  end 
and  pours  into  the  intestine  through  its  inner  opening  the  diges- 
tive juices  which  it  is  the  function  of  these  organs  to  secrete. 
The  thick-walled  muscular  stomach,  resembling  the  gizzard  of 
a  bird — whence  its  name  of  gizzard-shad — is  another  adaptation 
to  a  kind  of  food  not  available  to  most  other  fishes. 

It  occurs  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley,  in  brackish 
waters  along  the  Atlantic  and  the  Gulf  as  far  as  Mexico,  and  in 
the  streams  and  lakes  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  In  Illinois 
the  gizzard-shad  inhabits  all  our  larger  rivers,  together  with 
the  lakes  connected  with  them,  sometimes  ascending  smaller 
tributaries  during  the  season  of  the  spawning  migration,  and  it 
has  also  made  its  way,  by  means  of  canals,  into  lakes  Erie  and 
Michigan.  In  summer  it  is  a  rather  active  fish,  sometimes 
darting  rapidly  about  in  all  directions  and  often  leaping  out  of 
the  water.  When  surrounded  by  the  seine,  it  is  likely  to  escape 
in  schools  by  skipping  lightly  over  the  cork  line.  In  winter  it 
withdraws  largely  to  the  deeper  waters,  where  it  hibernates  in 
a  benumbed  condition. 


CLUPEIOE — THE    HERRINGS  47 

We  have  found  gravid  females,  and  males  running  with 
milt,  in  the  central  part  of  the  Illinois  River  in  May,  and  have 
seen  specimens  in  February  in  so  sluggish  a  condition,  that 
they  were  easily  dipped  up  with  a  net. 

The  young  are  extremely  different  from  the  adult,  slender 
and  minnow-like  in  shape,  and  with  a  row  of  fine  teeth  on  the 
upper  jaw,  although  the  mouth  of  the  adult  is  entirely  toothless 
and  smooth.  The  internal  structure  of  the  young  also  differs 
remarkably  from  that  of  the  full-grown  fish,  especially  in  the 
much  greater  simplicity  of  the  digestive  apparatus,  the  intes- 
tine, in  specimens  not  more  than  an  inch  long,  passing  almost 
directly  back  from  the  stomach  to  the  vent.  The  food  of  the 
young  consists,  like  that  of  most  of  our  young  fishes,  almost 
wholly  of  small  crustaceans  and  insect  larvae — the  animal 
plankton  of  our  waters.  That  of  larger  specimens,  on  the  other 
hand,  is  very  uniform  in  character,  comprising  quantities  of 
mud,  with  which  the  intestine  is  commonly  packed  from  end  to 
end,  mixed  with  many  minute  plants,  and  much  vegetable 
debris.  Occasionally  in  the  vicinity  of  distilleries,  this  fish 
feeds,  like  the  buffalo-fish,  on  distillery  slops,  and  sometimes 
one  will  find  univalve  mollusks,  aquatic  insects,  and  the  like, 
sparsely  represented  in  the  food.  Half-grown  specimens  often 
contain  larger  quantities  of  the  plankton  organisms  than  are 
found  in  the  food  of  the  adult. 

The  flesh  is  coarse  and  not  delicate  in  flavor,  but  still  is 
not  unpalatable,  and  is  eaten  by  some.  In  the  Great  Lake 
region  this  species  is  often  caught  and  offered  for  sale  under  the 
name  of  "lake  shad."  It  is  seldom  used  in  Illinois,  however, 
but  is  systematically  picked  out  of  the  catch  and  thrown  away 
by  the  fishermen,  who  regard  it  as  a  nuisance  rather  than  a 
benefit,  commonly  ignoring  its  value  as  food  for  the  species  we 
most  prize. 

FAMILY  CLUPEID^ 

THE   HERRINGS 

Body  oblong  or  elongate,  more  or  less  compressed,  covered  with  cy- 
cloid or  pectinated  scales;  head  naked;  belly  rounded,  or  compressed  and 
serrated;  lateral  line  wanting;  skeleton  osseous;  vertebrae  40  to  56,  anterior 
ones  not  modified;  ventral  fins  abdominal:  dorsal  median  or  somewhat 
posterior;  no  adipose  fin;  caudal  forked;  mesocoracoid  present;  gill-mem- 
branes free  from  isthmus;  gill-rakers  slender:  branchiostegals  usually  few 
(6  to  15) ;  pseudobranchise  present;  adipose  eyelid  present  or  wanting;  mouth 
terminal,  oblique;  premaxillaries  not  protractile;  maxillaries  composed  each 


48  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

of  about  3  pieces,  forming  lateral  margin  of  upper  jaw;  teeth  usually  small 
or  wanting,  variously  arranged;  air-bladder  large,  with  open  duct. 

Species  numerous  (about  150  known),  abundant  and  widely 
distributed  in  all  seas,  usually  swimming  in  immense  schools. 
Many  species  ascend  fresh  waters  in  spring  to  spawn  and  a  few 
are  permanent  residents  in  fresh  water.  Two  genera  are  found 
in  streams  tributary  to  the  Atlantic  and  the  Gulf  and  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley. 

KEY  TO  THE  GENERA  OF  CLUPEID^E  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.     Premaxillaries  meeting  at  a  large  angle,  so  that  the  tip  of  the  upper  jaw  does 

not  appear  to  toe  notched;  cheeks  longer  than  deep;  teeth  feeble.  ..Pomolobus. 

aa.     Premaxillaries  meeting  in  front  at  a  very  acute  angle,  so  that  the  emarginate 

front  of  the  upper  jaw  receives  the  slender  tip  of  the  lower;    fore  part  of 

cheeks  very  deep,  deeper  than  long;  jaws  toothless Alosa 


GENUS  POMOLOBUS  EAFINESQUE 

ALE  WIVES 

Body  rather  elongate,  more  or  less  compressed;  belly  sharp-edged, 
strongly  serrated  before  and  behind  ventrals;  mouth  terminal,  oblique;  jaws 
about  equal,  the  upper  somewhat  notched  at  tip;  mandible  shutting  within 
maxillaries;  teeth  feeble,  variously  placed;  dorsal  short,  nearly  median,  its 
posterior  ray  not  prolonged  in  a  filament;  scales  thin,  cycloid.  Species 
numerous,  mostly  anadromous,  inhabiting  both  northern  and  tropical  seas; 
one  species  found  in  fresh  waters  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

POMOLOBUS  CHRYSOCHLORIS  EAFINESQUE 
GOLDEN  SHAD;  SKIPJACK;  BLUE  HERRING 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  39. 

J.  &  G.,  266   (Clupea);   M.  V.,  73  (Clupea);   J.  &  E.,  I,  425;   N.,  44   (misspelled);   J., 
55;  F.,  73  (Clupea);   F.  F.,  II.  7,  439;  L,.,  20. 

Length  15  inches;  body  elongate,  com- 
pressed, greatest  width  somewhat  less  than 
2^  in  depjh  in  adults;  depth  3.6  to  4.3; 
depth  caudal  peduncle  1.4  to  1.6  in  its 
length.  Color  silvery  to  greenish  with  bluish 
and  golden  reflections;  back  light  olive-gray 
with  strong  bluish  luster;  sides  light  olive- 
green,  shading  to  silvery  white,  with  golden 

w       luster;    belly   opaque    milk-white;    no    dark 

FOG  13  spot  behind  opercle.     Head  pointed,  3.7  to 

4  in  length;  width  head  2.3  to  2.6  in  its 
length;  interorbital  space  5.8  *o  6.3  in  head,  less  than  eye;  eye  4.5  to  5.9  in 
head;  adipose  eyelid  present;  nose  4.3  to  5.2  in  head,  mouth  large,  terminal, 


ALOSA SHAD  49 

opening  very  high,  lower  jaw  strongly  projecting;  maxillary  past  middle  of 
orbit,  2.2  to  2.4  in  head;  teeth  feeble,  a  few  on  premaxillary  and  sometimes 
some  on  lower  jaw.  Dorsal  fin  nearer  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal,  inserted 
in  front  of  ventrals,  its  rays  16;  anal  rays  18;  pectorals  1.7  in  head  in  adults, 
little  more  than  J^  to  ventrals;  ventrals  less  than  half  way  to  anal  in 
adults;  pectorals  with  a  double  accessory  scale  above  and  with  scaly  sheath 
below  base;  accessory  ventral  scale  present.  Scales  52-54,  transverse  series 
14  or  15;  ventral  scutes  20+13. 

The  golden  shad,  or  skipjack,  is  a  beautiful,  symmetrical 
fish,  shading  from  green  to  silvery,  with  rich  golden  reflections. 
It  ranges  along  the  Gulf  coast  from  Pensacola  on  the  east  to 
Galveston  on  the  south  and  west,  and  up  the  Mississippi  and 
Ohio  rivers  to  Pittsburg  and  the  larger  streams  of  Kansas. 
It  is  not  a  common  fish  in  Illinois,  and  occurs  but  seven  times 
in  our  collections,  all  from  Mississippi,  Rock,  and  Illinois  River 
localities.  It  appears  at  Alton  in  small  numbers  in  September, 
two  pounds  being  about  the  maximum  weight.  It  is  an  active 
fish,  frequently  leaping  from  the  water  in  sport  or  in  pursuit  of 
its  prey — whence  its  name  of  skipjack.  It  is  a  predaceous 
species,  the  young  feeding  on  insects,  and  the  adults  on  other 
fishes. 

GENUS  ALOSA  CUVIER 
SHAD 

Body  quite  deep  and  compressed;  heau  deep,  the  cheeks  deeper  than 
long;  jaws  toothless;  upper  jaw  with  a  shaip.  deep  notch  at  tip,  the  pre- 
maxillaries  meeting  at  a  very  acute  angle;  dorsa  much  nearer  snout  than 
base  of  caudal;  other  characters  as  in  Pomolobus,  to  which  Alosa  is  closely 
allied.  North  Atlantic  and  Gulf  of  Mexico,  ascending  rivers  in  spring; 
species  4  or  5,  3  of  them  found  in  the  Mississippi  and  its  larger  tributaries 
north  about  to  the  latitude  of  St.  Louis. 


ALOSA   OHIENSIS    EVEEIIAXN 

OHIO    SHAD 

Evermann,  Rep.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1901,  p.  277. 

Length  18  inches;  body  very  long,  slender,  and  much  compressed; 
dorsal  and  ventral  outlines  very  gently  and  evenly  arched;  depth  3.6;  caudal 
peduncle  very  long,  the  distance  from  base  of  caudal  to  dorsal  fin  equaling 
distance  from  that  point  to  preopercle.  Head  4.5  in  length;  eye  5.5;  mouth 
large;  maxillary  2.1  in  head,  broad,  reaching  posterior  border  of  eye;  lower 
jaw  slightly  projecting;  gill-rakers  26+49=75.  Dorsal  rays  18;  anal  18. 


50  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Ohio  River  at  Louisville,  whence  the  types  were  obtained 
by  Dr.  Evermann  in  1897  and  1898. 


FAMILY  SALMONID/E 

THE    SALMON    FAMILY 

Body  oblong  or  elongate,  covered  with  cycloid  scales;  head  naked; 
lateral  line  present;  skeleton  bony;  anterior  vertebrae  not  modified;  ventral 
fins  abdominal;  dorsal  fin  about  median;  adipose  fin  present;  caudal  forked; 
mesocoracoid  present;  gill-membranes  free  from  isthmus;  branchiostegals 
10  to  20;  pseudobranchige  present;  gill-rakers  various;  mouth  terminal; 
maxillary  forming  lateral  margin  of  upper  jaw;  a  supplemental  maxillary 
present:  premaxillaries  not  protractile;  teeth  various,  sometimes  wanting; 
stomach  siphonal;  pyloric  caeca  numerous;  air-bladder  large,  with  open 
duct;  ova  large,  falling  into  abdominal  cavity  before  exclusion. 

Fresh  waters  and  seas  of  northern  regions  of  Europe,  Asia, 
and  America;  many  species  anadromous;  genera,  10;  species 
about  70;  5  genera  found  in  fresh  waters  of  the  United  States 
and  Canada. 

Most  of  the  species  are  of  moderate  or  large  size,  and  are 
prized  for  their  food  qualities.  Among  them  also  are  numbered 
the  choicest  of  all  fresh-water  game  fishes.  They  are  the  best 
adapted  of  all  fishes  to  the  purposes  of  artificial  culture,  which 
in  recent  years  has  aided  materially  in  keeping  up  their  fisheries. 
The  fact  that  the  eggs  can  be  transported  long  distances  in  ice 
without  injury  has  made  possible  the  introduction  of  American 
and  British  forms  into  some  of  the  temperate  regions  of  the 
southern  hemisphere. 


KEY  TO  THE  GENERA  OF  SALMONID^E  FOUND  IN  LAKE  MICHIGAN  AND 
ADJACENT    WATERS 

a.  Mouth  not  deeply  cleft,  the  mandible  articulating  with  the  quadrate  bone  under 

or  before  the  eye;  dentition  more  or  less  feeble  or  incomplete;   scales  moder- 
ate, 60  to  95  in  lateral  line. 

b.  Mouth  rather  small;    lower  jaw  usually   included  and   overhung  by  the  more 

or  less  projecting  snout;   premaxillaries  broad,  with  the  cutting  edge  nearly 
vertical  or  directed  backward;   gill-rakers  on  long  limb  of  first  arch  usually 

fewer  than  30  and  rather  short Coregonus. 

bb.  Mouth  larger,  the  lower  jaw  usually  more  or  less  projecting  beyond  upper; 
premaxillaries  rather  narrow,  with  the  cutting  edge  nearly  horizontal  and 
directed  forward;  gill-rakers  on  long  limb  of  first  arch  usually  more  than 
35,  long  and  slender Argyrosomus. 


COREGOXDS — WHITEFISHES  51 

Mouth  deeply  cleft,  the  lower  jaw  articulating  with  the  quadrate  bone  behind 
the  eyes;  strong  teeth  on  jaws,  vomer,  palatines,  and  tongue;  scales  very 
small,  175  to  230  in  lateral  line. 

Vomer  with  a  raised  crest,  extending  backward  from  the  head  of  the  bone,  free 
from  its  shaft,  and  armed  with  strong  teeth;  hyoid  bone  with  a  broad  band  of 
strong  teeth;  species  grayish-spotted,  without  bright  colors Cristi vomer. 

Vomer  without  raised  crest,  only  the  head  being  toothed;  hyoid  bone  with 
very  weak  teeth  or  none;  species  red-spotted,  the  lower  fins  with  bright 
edgings  Salvelinus. 


GENUS  COREGONUS  (AKTEDI)  LINNAEUS 

WHITEFISHES 

Body  more  or  less  elongate,  compressed;  head  conic,  the  snouth  pro- 
jecting; lower  jaw  usually  included;  premaxillaries  broad,  with  the  cutting 
edge  nearly  vertical;  jaws  toothless  or  nearly  so;  gill-rakers  usually  rather 
short;  dorsal  fin  about  median,  of  11  to  14  rays;  caudal  deeply  forked;  scales 
thin,  cycloid;  air-bladder  very  large;  pyloric  caeca  about  100;  vertebrae  56 
to  60.  Clear  lakes  of  northern  Europe,  Asia,  and  America.  Species  about 
15,  of  which  3  are  found  in  the  Great  Lake  region. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES  OF  COREGONUS  FOUXD  IN  LAKE  MICHIGAN 

a.     Gill-rakers   17   to  20  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;    maxillary  about  4   in   head, 
about   reaching   pupil;    body   considerably   compressed,    the   back   arched   in 

front   of   dorsal   fin clupeiformis. 

aa.  Gill-rakers  11  or  12  on  lower  limb  of  first  arch;  maxillary  4.8  to  5.5  in  head, 
not  reaching  eye;  body  long,  slender,  and  roundish,  not  much  elevated  or 
compressed  quadrilateralis. 

COREGONUS  CLUPEIFORMIS  (MITCHILL) 

COMMON   WHITEFISH 

Mitchill,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  II,  1818,  321   (Salmo). 

J.  &  G.,  299;  M.  V.,  77;  J.  &  E.,  I,  465;   N.,  44  (Argyrosomus) ;  J.,  54;   F.  F.,  I.  6,  95; 
P.,  73;   L.,  20. 

Length  2  feet  or  more;  body  oblong,  compressed,  back  always  more 
or  less  elevated,  becoming  notably  so  in  the  adult;  depth  in  length  3  to  4. 
Color  olivaceous  above;  sides  white,  not  silvery;  lower  fins  sometimes  dusky. 
Head  5,  comparatively  small  and  short;  interorbital  space  3.4  in  head;  eye 
4  to  5;  nose  3.8  in  head;  tip  of  snout  on  level  of  lower  edge  of  pupil;  mouth 
small,  maxillary  reaching  past  front  of  orbit,  about  4  in  head;  lower  jaw 
included;  gill-rakers  .5  diameter  of  eye,  usually  about  10+17  to  19.  Dorsal 
rays  11;  anal  11.  Scales  8-74-9;  lateral  line  continuous. 

This  is  a  northern  species,  occurring  in  vast  abundance  in 
all  the  Great  Lakes  and  in  some  of  their  tributary  waters,  and 
ranging  north  to  the  Arctic  Ocean.  It  was  formerly  abundant 
in  southwestern  Lake  Michigan  within  the  limits  of  the  State  of 


52  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Illinois,  but  is  now  taken  from  that  part  of  the  lake,  if  at  all, 
in  very  small  numbers  only.  It  is  still  much  the  most  important 
food  species  occurring  within  our  territory,  but  reckless  fishing 
has  reduced  it  to  insignificance  as  an  Illinois  fish.  The  long- 
shore fishery  in  this  state,  which  as  late  as  1885  produced  over 
eighty  thousand  pounds  per  annum,  yielded  only  some  two 
hundred  pounds  in  1899.  Indeed,  the  total  catch  of  the  several 
species  of  whitefish  (Coregonus)  in  the  Great  Lakes,  now  gives 
us  only  five  million  to  eight  million  pounds  a  year  as  compared 
with  eighteen  million  pounds  in  1885  and  twenty-one  million 
pounds  in  1879. 

The  record  weight  of  a  single  whitefish  is  twenty-three 
pounds — the  weight  of  a  specimen  taken  at  White  Fish  Point, 
Lake  Superior.  Its  mean  weight  in  northern  Lake  Michigan 
is  four  or  five  pounds,  and  fishes  weighing  as  much  as  fifteen 
pounds  are  now  very  rare. 

This  is  probably,  on  the  whole,  the  favorite  food-fish  of  our 
inland  waters  In  the  words  of  Sir  John  Richardson,  "  Though 
it  is  a  fat  fish,  instead  of  producing  satiety  it  becomes  more 
agreeable  to  the  palate,  and  I  know  from  experience  that, 
though  deprived  of  bread  and  vegetables,  one  may  live  wholly 
upon  this  fish  for  months,  or  even  years,  without  tiring."  It 
is  mainly  eaten  fresh,  but  it  is  also  smoked  or  salted  in  con- 
siderable quantities. 

This  species  spends  most  of  its  time,  as  a  rule,  in  the  deeper 
and  cooler  parts  of  the  lakes  which  it  inhabits,  coming  towards 
the  shore  and  sometimes  entering  streams  in  October  and 
November  as  the  spawning  season  approaches.  In  many  lakes 
there  is  a  migration  movement  from  deep  to  shallow  water  in 
early  summer/  also.  The  whitefish  spawns  during  October, 
November,  and  December,  in  depths  varying  from  eight  to 
fifteen  fathoms,  beginning,  it  is  said,  when  the  water  reaches 
about  40°  F.  It  is  most  active  on  its  spawning  grounds  in  the 
evening  and  at  night,  each  female  depositing  several  hundred 
eggs  at  a  time,  and  the  total  number  averaging  about  ten 
thousand  for  each  pound  of  her  weight. 

The  young  usually  appear  in  March  and  April,  swimming 
separately  near  the  surface,  and  soon  seeking  deep  water  to 
feed  and  to  escape  their  enemies.  Their  first  food  consists 
mainly  of  the  smaller  Entomostraca  of  the  plankton,  the  capture 
of  which  is  facilitated  by  the  presence,  on  the  lower  jaw  of  the 
young  fish,  of  four  sharp  strong  teeth,  the  two  anterior  ones 


ARGYROSOMUS — CISCOES  53 

curved  backwards  and  slightly  inwards,  and  the  posterior  pair 
much  smaller  and  directed  almost  exactly  inwards.  These 
teeth  disappear  as  the  fish  grows  up,  the  food  changing  likewise 
until,  in  the  adult,  it  consists  mainly  of  small  mollusks  and 
crustaceans,  with  larvae  of  insects  and  other  animal  forms. 
The  gill-rakers  of  the  adult  are  of  a  size  and  number  to  enable 
it  to  separate  from  the  water  organisms  as  small  as  Entomostraca, 
and  where  these  are  abundant  they  make  a  large  percentage 
of  the  food.  The  general  character  of  the  contents  of  the 
stomach  indicates,  however,  that  the  fish  feeds  habitually  at 
the  bottom,  as  might  indeed  be  inferred  from  the  character  of  its 
mouth.  In  aquaria  it  has  been  forced  to  feed  on  small  fish  in 
winter,  and  has  learned  to  pursue  and  seize  its  prey  much  as  a 
trout  would  do. 

It  is  caught  mainly  in  gill-  and  pound-nets  from  April  to 
the  end  of  December.  It  is  not  properly  an  angler's  fish, 
although  where  abundant  it  may  be  taken  on  the  hook  with  a 
bait  of  worms  or  insect  larvae.  Fortunately  for  the  future  of 
the  species,  this  valuable  and  popular  food-fish  is  one  of  those 
best  adapted  to  artificial  propagation.  Females  are  adult  in 
three  or  four  years,  and  75  to  95  per  cent,  of  their  eggs  yield 
the  young  in  the  hatchery. 

A  single  other  species  of  the  genus  Coregonus  (C.  quadri- 
lateralis,  the  round  or  Menominee  whitefish)  is  taken  in  Lake 
Michigan,  though  much  more  rarely  than  the  common  white- 
fish.  A  sufficient  characterization  of  this  species  will  be  found 
in  the  key  to  the  species  of  Coregonus  preceding. 


GENUS  ARGYROSOMUS  AGASSIZ 


Close  to  Coregonus,  from- which  it  differs  chiefly  in  the  larger  mouth 
and  more  produced  jaws,  the  premaxillaries  being  placed  nearly  horizontally, 
and  the  lower  jaw  projecting  decidedly  beyond  them;  gill-rakers  very  long 
and  slender;  dorsal  fin  of  9  to  12  rays;  caudal  forked;  scales,  etc.,  as  in  Core- 
gonus] vertebrae  55.  Fresh  waters  of  northern  Europe,  Asia,  and  North 
America.  Species  numerous;  about  6  known  from  the  Great  Lake  region 
of  the  United  States. 


54  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

KEY  TO  SPECIES  OF  ARGYROSOMUS  FOUND  IN  LAKE  MICHIGAN 

a.  Body    elongate,    herring-shaped,    depth    usually    considerably    more    than    3% 

(Sl/2  to  4%);  scales  73  to  90  in  longitudinal  series,  uniform  in  shape  and  size, 
the  free  edges  convex. 

b.  Lower  flns   pale   or   merely   tipped   with   dusky;    scales   punctulate   with    dark 

specks. 

c.  Eye  large,  not  much,  if  any,  shorter  than  snout,  its  length  3%   to  4%  in  head. 

d.  Maxillary  3%  to  3%   in  head;   lower  jaw  projecting  beyond  upper;    gill-rakers 

long  and  numerous,  usually  about  47  on  first  gill-arch  (15  to  19  +  30 
to  38)  artedi. 

dd.  Maxillary  2%  to  3  in  head;  lower  jaw  scarcely  projecting  or  not  at  all;  gill- 
rakers  usually  not  more  than  39  or  40  on  first  gill-arch  (14  +  25  or  26)..  .hoyi. 

cc.  Eye  small,  shorter  than  snout,  about  5  in  head;  maxillary  very  long,  2y2  in 
head;  mandible  reaching  usually  to  posterior  edge  of  orbit,  half  as  long 
as  head  prognathus. 

bb.  Lower  fins  all  blue-black;  body  stout;  mouth  large;  gill-rakers  at  least  50  on 
the  first  arch  (17  +  33) nigripinnis. 

aa.  Body  short,  deep,  and  compressed,  the  curve  of  the  back  similar  to  that  of 
the  belly;  depth  3  to  3%  in  length;  scales  67  to  74,  larger  forward  and 
closely  imbricated,  the  free  margin  often  concave  or  notched tullibee. 


ARGYROSOMUS  ARTEDI   (Li;  SUEUH) 
LAKE  HERRING;  Cisco 

Le  Sueur,  Journ.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  1818,  231   (Coregonus). 

G.,  VI,  198  and  199  (Coregonus  harengus  and  clupeiformis) ;  J.  &  G.,  301  (Coreg- 
onus); M.  V.,  78  (Coregonus);  J.  &  E.,  I,  468;  N.,  44  (clupeiformis);  J..  54 
(Coregonus);  F.,  73  (Coregonus);  F.  F.,  II.  7,  436  (Coregonus);  L.,  20. 

Length  12  inches;  body  elongate,  compressed,  not  elevated;  depth  4^4 
in  length.  Color  bluish  black  or  greenish  above;  sides  silvery,  scales  with 
dark  specks;  fins  mostly  pale,  the  lower  dusky-tinged.  Head  4^  m  length, 
compressed,  somewhat  pointed  and  rather  long,  the  distance  from  occiput 
to  tip  of  snout  usually  a  little  less  than  half  the  distance  from  occiput  to 
dorsal  fin;  interorbital  space  33^  in  head;  eye  4  to  4^;  nose  4;  mouth  rather 
large,  the  maxillary  reaching  not  quite  to  the  middle  of  the  pupil,  3*4  to  3^ 
in  head;  the  mandible  2^£  in  head,  slightly  projecting;  gill-rakers  very  long 
and  slender,  15  to  17+28  to  34,  the  longest  1%  in  eye.  Dorsal  rays  10; 
anal  12.  Scales  8-75  to  90-7,  10  rows  under  base  of  dorsal;  lateral  line 
continuous. 

Great  Lakes  and  neighboring  waters,  including  Lake  Cham- 
plain;  north  to  James  Bay,  but  not  in  Alaska  or  Arctic  America; 
abundant  in  Lake  Michigan. 

This  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  food-fish  of  the  Great 
Lakes,  the  catch  of  1899  aggregating  nearly  sixty  million  pounds, 
about  a  third  of  it  from  Lake  Michigan.  The  commonest 
name  of  the  species,  it  scarcely  need  be  said,  is  a  misnomer,  as 
this  is  properly  a  whitefish  and  not  a  herring.  It  should  be 


CR1STIVOMER — GEEAT   LAKE   TROUT  55 

generally  known  by  the  much  more  distinctive  name  of  cisco, 
already  frequently  used  for  it  but  now  commonly  limited  to  a 
variety  of  the  species  found  in  the  smaller  lakes  of  Wisconsin 
and  of  Indiana,  but  not  in  those  of  Illinois. 

In  food  and  habits  it  is  similar  to  the  common  whitefish, 
although  it  is  notorious  for  its  enormous  destruction  of  the 
spawn  of  the  latter,  upon  whose  multiplication,  in  view  of  its 
own  greater  abundance  and  the  rapidly  decreasing  supply  of 
whitefish,  it  must  place  a  serious  check.  Like  the  whitefish  it 
spends  the  summer  and  the  winter  in  the  deeper  water  of  its 
habitat,  moving  shorewards  in  spring  evidently  in  search  of 
food,  and  again  in  fall  for  the  deposit  of  its  spawn,  which  takes 
place  chiefly  in  November.  Its  eggs  are  laid  in  shallow  water/ 
preferably  upon  a  sandy  bottom,  although  it  sometimes  spawns 
on  the  mud  along  the  borders  of  the  shallower  waters  of  the 
lakes  and  in  the  mouths  of  their  tributary  streams. 

It  is  caught  with  gill-nets  in  shallow  water  from  April  to 
the  last  of  May,  but  the  larger  part  of  the  catch  is  obtained  by 
pound-nets.  Up  to  1899  it  seems  to  have  withstood  successfully 
the  enormous  drain  of  our  fisheries,  the  yield  of  that  year  being 
more  than  double  that  of  1885,  while  the  catch  of  whitefish,  on 
the  other  hand,  had  diminished  to  less  than  a  third. 

In  addition  to  the  common  lake  herring,  four  other  species 
of  the  genus  Argyrosomus  (A.  hoyi,  the  mooneye  cisco;  A. 
prognathus,  the  longjaw;  A.  nigripinnis,  the  bluefin;  and  A. 
tullibee,  the  tullibee)  are  more  or  less  commonly  taken  in  Lake 
Michigan.  None  of  these  species  is  as  abundant  as  the  lake 
herring  (A.  artedi),  however,  and  none,  unless  the  bluefin,  is 
taken  at  all  frequently  in  southern  Lake  Michigan,  within  the 
limits  of  this  state.  For  purposes  of  the  present  report  all  of 
these  species  are  sufficiently  characterized  in  the  key  to  the 
species  of  Argyrosomus  preceding. 


GENUS  CRISTIVOMER  GILL  &  JORDAN 

GREAT   LAKE    TROUT 

Body  moderately  elongate;  mouth  large;  hyoid  with  a  band  of  strong 
teeth;  vomer  boat-shaped,  with  a  raised  crest  behind  the  head  and  free  from 
its  shaft,  this  crest  being  armed  with  teeth;  caudal  little  forked;  scales  very 
small. 


56  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

CRISTIVOMER  NAMAYCUSH  (WALBAUM) 

GREAT   LAKE    TROUT 

Walbaum,  1792,  Artedi  Piscium,  68   (Salmo). 

G.,  VI,  123   (Salmo);   J.  &  G.,  317   (Salvelinus) ;    M.  V.,  80   (Salvelinus) ;   J.  &  E.,  I, 
504;   N.,  44  (Salmo);   J.,  54;   F.,  73   (Salvelinus);   L.,  21. 

Length  3  feet;  body  elongate,  depth  4  in  length.  General  coloration 
dark  grayish  green  to  brownish,  sometimes  paler,  sometimes  almost  black; 
everywhere  with  rounded  paler  spots,  which  are  often  yellowish  or  reddish 
tinged;  head  usually  vermiculate  above;  dorsal  and  caudal  reticulate  with 
darker,  the  anal  faintly  so.  Head  4^  long,  and  its  upper  surface  flattened; 
eye  43/£  in  head;  interorbital  space  8^5;  nose  8^5;  mouth  very  large,  the 
maxillary  extending  much  beyond  eye,  nearly  half  length  of  head;  teeth  very 
strong.  Dorsal  rays  11;  anal  11;  caudal  well  forked.  Scales  very  small,  185 
to  210  in  longitudinal  series;  lateral  line  continuous,  pores  about  100. 

This  magnificent  species,  one  of  the  three  most  important 
fishes  of  our  Great  Lakes  is,  like  the  whitefish,  a  species  of 
northern  distribution.  It  is  found  throughout  the  Great  Lake 
region,  and  in  the  lakes  of  New  York,  New  Hampshire,  and 
Maine,  thence  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Columbia  and  Fraser 
rivers  and  the  streams  of  Vancouver  Island,  and  northward  to 
the  arctic  circle.  It  is  common  in  the  northern  part  of  Lake 
Michigan,  but  rarer  to  the  southward.  In  our  Illinois  markets 
it  is  known  almost  wholly  by  the  name  of  lake  trout,  but  farther 
north  the  names  of  Mackinaw  trout,  salmon-trout,  and  namay- 
cush  are  sometimes  used.  It  is  extremely  variable  in  size,  form, 
and  color,  particularly  under  the  influence  of  local  conditions, 
and  hence  has  received  many  local  names. 

Although  the  usual  weight  of  specimens  taken  in  large- 
meshed  gill-nets  is  about  eight  pounds,  and  of  those  captured 
with  lines  and  seines  not  more  than  two  pounds,  the  species  is 
said  by  Goode  to  attain  a  weight  of  a  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds,  which  is  eight  times  the  maximum  size  of  the  closely 
allied  brook  trout.  "This  is  due,  perhaps,"  he  says,  uto  the 
greater  ease  with  which,  for  hundreds  of  generations,  the  lake 
trout  have  obtained  their  food.  They  are  almost  always  found 
in  the  same  lakes  with  one  or  more  kinds  of  whitefish,  whose 
slow  helpless  movements  render  them  an  easy  prey,  and  upon 
whose  tender  luscious  flesh  the  lake  trout  feeds  voraciously." 
This  trout  is  a  fish  of  highly  predaceous  habit,  living  especially 
upon  lake  herring  of  all  sizes,  but  eating,  in  an  emergency, 
almost  any  animal  food  which  comes  in  its  way. 


CRISTIVOMER — GREAT   LAKE   TROUT  57 

A  lake  trout  twenty-three  inches  long  has  been  known  to 
swallow  a  burbot  of  a  length  of  seventeen  inches,  and  whitefish 
of  two  or  three  pounds  weight  are  not  infrequently  taken  from 
the  stomachs  of  large  trout.  A  twenty-pound  trout  caught 
off  Beaver  Island,  in  northern  Lake  Michigan,  had  thirteen 
herring  in  its  stomach.  ''They  are  as  omnivorous,"  says 
Goode,  "as  codfish,  and  among  the  articles  which  have  been 
found  in  their  stomachs  may  be  mentioned  an  open  jack-knife 
seven  inches  long,  tin  cans,  rags,  raw  potatoes,  chicken  and  ham 
bones,  salt  pork,  corn-cobs,  spoons,  silver  dollars,  a  watch  and 
chain,  and,  in  one  instance,  a  piece  of  tarred  rope  two  feet 
long."  Most  of  this  debris  was  doubtless  taken  while  the  fish 
were  following  steamers. 

The  greater  part  of  the  year  is  spent  by  this  fish  in  deep 
water,  but  in  the  spawning  season  it  approaches  the  shore, 
depositing  its  eggs  late  in  October,  usually  on  rocky  bottoms, 
at  depths  varying  from  seven  feet  to  fifteen  fathoms.  Mr. 
Milner  found  nearly  fifteen  thousand  eggs  in  a  lake  trout  of 
twenty-four  pounds  weight.  The  young  appear  in  late  winter 
or  early  spring. 

Lake  trout  are  taken  chiefly  in  pound-  and  gill-nets  during 
their  spawning  season — that  is,  in  September,  October,  and 
November — but  they  are  also  caught  in  deep  water  from  the 
time  the  ice  breaks  up  until  late  fall.  They  may  be  readily 
taken  with  a  hook  baited  with  a  piece  of  fish,  but  they  are  not 
sufficiently  "game"  to  reward  the  patient  angler  with  a  " first- 
class  fight." 

The  value  of  the  lake-trout  fishery  is  second  only  to  that  of 
the  whitefish  in  the  Great  Lake  region.  The  product  of  Lake 
Michigan  alone  in  1899,  was  five  and  a  half  million  pounds. 
The  species  has  been  propagated  artificially  to  a  considerable 
extent,  particularly  in  Michigan,  where  the  Northville  hatchery 
recently  handled  over  eleven  million  eggs  in  a  single  year,  about 
70  per  cent,  of  them  successfully. 


—13   F 


58  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


ORDER   APODES 

THE    EELS 

Body  eel-shaped;  skeleton  bony;  vertebrae  numerous,  the  anterior  ones 
distinct,  without  Weberian  ossicles:  ventral  fins  absent;  all  fins  without  spines; 
pectoral  arch,  if  present,  not  connected  with,  and  remote  from,  the  skull; 
mesocoracoid  absent;  opercular  bones  small  and  concealed;  premaxillaries 
absent  maxillaries  persistent  in  some  forms  (Anguillidce) ;  air-bladder,  if 
present,  communicating  with  oesophagus  by  an  open  duct. 

The  eels  are  elongate  serpentine  fishes,  mostly  with  naked 
skin,  or  with  extremely  small  imbedded  scales.  Their  origin  is 
unknown.  They  show  some  kinship  with  the  Isospondyli  (shad- 
and  herring-like  forms),  from  which  they  may  have  sprung  by 
degradation,  though  this  is  by  no  means  certain.  The  forms 
without  paired  fins  are  mostly  marine.  There  are  several 
families,  of  which  one  is  represented  in  American  fresh  waters. 


FAMILY  ANGUILLIDCE 

THE   TRUE    EELS 

Body  serpentine,  or  eel-shaped,  covered  with  very  fine  scales  which  are 
deeply  imbedded  in  the  skin;  head  naked;  lateral  line  present;  skeleton 
osseous;  vertebrae  numerous,  the  anterior  ones  not  modified;  ventral  fins 
absent;  no  spines  in  fins;  dorsal  and  anal  continuous  with  caudal  around  tail, 
which  is  isocercal  (i.  e.,  with  the  caudal  vertebrae  decreasing  in  size  in  a 
straight  line  backwards,  as  in  the  Anacanthini) ;  mesocoracoid  absent;  gill- 
openings  much  restricted,  about  as  wide  as  the  base  of  the  pectorals;  oper- 
culum  small,  concealed  beneath  skin;  mouth  terminal;  jaws  about  equal; 
premaxillaries  absent;  maxillaries  ateral,  separated  on  median  line  by  the 
coalesced  ethmoid  and  vomer;  maxillary,  mandible,  and  vomer  with  cardi- 
form  teeth;  air-bladder  with  open  duct;  young  passing  through  a  larval 
stage,  the  ribbon-shaped  larva  being  known  as  Leptocephalus  (a  name  first 
used  to  designate  these  forms  as  a  distinct  genus  of  fishes). 

Fresh  and  brackish  waters  of  most  parts  of  the  world,  but 
not  found  on  Pacific  coast  of  North  America  or  in  islands  of 
the  Pacific.  A  single  genus  known. 


ANGUILLA — EELS  59 

GENUS  ANGUILLA  SHAW 

EELS 

Characters  included  in  description  of  the  family.  Species  not  numer- 
ous and  those  known  not  very  well  distinguished  from  each  other,  A.  anguilla 
of  Europe,  A.  chrysypa  of  the  eastern  United  States,  and  A.  japonica  of  east 
Asia  being  very  closely  allied. 

ANGUILLA  CHRYSYPA  EAFINESQUE 
AMERICAN  EEL;  FRESH- WATER  EEL 

Rafinesque,  1817,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.  &  Grit.  Rev.,  120. 

G.,  VIII,   31   (bostoniensis);   J.  &  G.,  361   (rostrate);    M.  V.,  90   (anguilla);    J.  &  E., 
I,  348;  N.,  51  (vulgaris  var.  rostrate);  J.,  68  (rostrate);  F.,  71  (rostrtata);  L...  20. 

Length  3  to  4  feet,  weight  5  to  8  Ib;  body  serpentine,  subcylindrical 
anteriorly,  compressed  behind;  depth  in  length  12  to  17.  Color  variable, 
usually  nearly  plain  greenish  brown,  often  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellow- 
ish; belly  paler,  greenish  gray.  Head  7  or  8  in  length,  2  to  2.5  in  trunk 
(distance  from  gill-openings  to  front  of  anal);  interorbital  space  5  to  7  in 
head;  eye  2  to  2.8;  a  single  pair  of  short  nasal  barbels;  mouth  wide,  maxillary 
past  orbit,  lips  thin,  and  lower  jaw  projecting;  gill-membranes  very  broadly 
joined  across  isthmus,  the  gill-openings  confined  to  the  sides  of  the  neck 
below  top  of  pectoral  basis;  jaws  with  bands  of  cardiform  teeth;  vomer 
toothed.  Dorsal  fin  inserted  about  head's  length  in  front  of  anal,  its  dis- 
tance from  snout  about  3  in  length;  dorso-caudal  with  about  60  rays  to  tip 
of  tail;  pectorals  very  short,  3  in  head;  no  ventrals.  Scales  minute*,  oblong, 
slender,  and  deeply  imbedded,  the  oblique  rows  taking  a  zigzag  direction; 
lateral  line  developed,  nearly  straight. 

Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts  and  West  Indies,  ascending  rivers ; 
not  in  the  Pacific;  found  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley;  in 
all  the  larger  streams  of  Illinois.  Taken  regularly  in  small 
numbers  from  the  Illinois  River  at  Havana  from  deep  water. 

The  eel  reaches  a  length  of  3  to  4  feet  and  a  weight  of  4  to 
6  Ib.  A  majority  of  those  taken  are  between  2%  and  3  feet  long. 
A  specimen  34  inches  long  recently  caught  at  Havana  weighed 
3^  pounds. 

Eels  prefer  deep  water  with  mud  bottom.  They  are  often 
found  in  the  mouths  of  shallow  sloughs  at  night,  and  in  such 
places  may  be  taken  along  with  bullheads  on  trot-lines.  They 
are  powerful  and  rapid  swimmers,  and  can  travel  rapidly  over 
the  ground,  like  snakes.  They  have  been  known  to  come  up 

*  In  a  specimen  2^  fest  long  150  scales  were  counted  on  one  square  inch  of  surface  of  side  of 
body,  half  way  between  tip  of  tail  and  vent. 


GO  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

out  of  the  water  into  damp  meadows,  where  they  are  some- 
times found  hiding  under  stones  near  springs. 

They  are  among  the  most  voracious  of  all  carnivorous 
fishes,  but  are  chiefly  scavengers  in  their  feeding  habits,  eating 
all  manner  of  refuse,  preferring,  however,  dead  fish  .or  other 
animal  matter.  They  sometimes  devour  fishes  caught  in  gill- 
nets,  and  on  the  Atlantic  coast  frequently  mutilate  shad,  caught 
in  the  net,  to  get  at  their  roe.  It  is  said  by  Jordan  and  Ever- 
mann  that  it  frequently  happens  that  the  greater  part  of  a  gill- 
net  catch  may  consist,  when  it  is  removed,  simply  of  the  heads 
and  backbones  of  fishes,  the  remainder  having  been  devoured 
by  myriads  of  eels.  They  are  nocturnal  feeders,  "  poking  their 
noses  into  every  imaginable  hole  in  their  search  for  food. "  An 
eel  in  our  aquarium  at  Ottawa,  sought  its  food  only  at  night, 
and  hid  by  day  under  a  stone  on  the  bottom  of  the  tank. 

The  flesh  of  the  eel  is  highly  esteemed  by  many,  and  it 
always  brings  a  good  price.  In  the  Great  Lake  region  and  in 
the  East  eels  are  often  salted  and  smoked.  They  are  also  put 
up  in  tins  with  jellies  or  a  spiced  sauce  of  vinegar.  Their  skins 
are  used  in  England  for  binding  books  and  making  whips.  Eels 
are  caught  in  traps  and  eel-pots  and  on  set-lines,  and  some- 
times also  with  seines. 

The  mode  of  reproduction  and  the  development  of  their 
young  were  unsolved  riddles  from  the  time  of  Aristotle  to  near 
the  end  of  the  nineteenth  century,  but  all  essential  facts  in  the 
life  history  of  the  species  are  now  well  understood.  The  principal 
difficulty  arose  from  the  fact  that  the  eel,  although  a  fresh-water 
fish  during  the  greater  part  of  its  life,  migrates  to  the  sea  to 
propagate,  spawning  in  salt  water,  usually  on  muddy  banks  off 
the  mouths  of  rivers.  The  young  develop  within  two  or  three 
months,  but  they  are  so  unlike  the  adults  that  they  were  not 
recognized  as  belonging  even  to  the  same  genus.  Spawning 
occurs  in  fall,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  second  spring  the 
young  find  their  way  to  the  mouths  of  rivers,  which  they  ascend 
in  considerable  numbers,  remaining  in  fresh  water  until  full 
grown,  when  they  return  to  the  sea.  During  this  migration, 
eels,  like  salmon  and  shad,  do  not  take  any  food.  Their  sexual 
organs  do  not  mature  until  they  have  been  some  weeks  in  salt 
water.  After  spawning  both  sexes  die,  neither  males  nor  females 
ever  returning  to  fresh  water  the  second  time.  The  eel  is  re- 
markably prolific,  a  single  female  32  inches  long  having  been 
estimated  to  produce  10,700,000  eggs. 


ORDER    EVEXTOGNATHI — THE    CARP-LIKE    FISHES  61 


ORDER  EVENTOGNATHI 

THE    CARP-LIKE    FISHES 

Skeleton  osseous;  anterior  vertebrae  modified,  with  Weberian  appa- 
ratus; fins  without  spines  in  typical  forms;  ventral  fins  abdominal;  pectoral 
arch  suspended  from  the  skull;  a  mesocoracoid  present;  opercular  bones  all 
present;  branchiostegals  few,  usually  3  or  4;  air-bladder  with  open  duct; 
jaws  without  teeth.  Species  exceedingly  numerous,  in  all  of  the  streams 
and  lakes  of  the  northern  hemisphere. 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES  OF  EVENTOGNATHI  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.     Dorsal  fins  of  more  than  25  rays,  or  shorter  and  the  lips  thickened  and  covered 
with   plicate   or   papillose   skin;    pharyng-eal    teeth    numerous   and   comb-like 

Catostomidae. 

aa.     Dorsal  fin  of  not  more  than  10  rays;   lips  usually  thin,  never  plicate  or  papil- 
lose; pharyngeal  teeth  fewer  than  8  on  a  side,  in  1  to  3  rows Cyprinidae. 

FAMILY  CATOSTOMIDAE 

THE    SUCKERS 

Body  oblong  or  elongate,  usually  more  or  less  compressed,  covered  with 
large  or  small  cycloid  scales;  head  naked;  lateral  line  usually  present:  belly 
not  serrated;  skeleton  osseous;  anterior  4  vertebrae  modified  and  provided 
with  ^yeberian  apparatus  or  ossicula  auditus;  fins  without  spines;  ventrals 
abdominal;  no  adipose  fin;  tail  more  or  less  forked;  a  mesocoracoid  arch 
present;  gill-membranes  more  or  less  united  to  the  isthmus,  restricting  the 
gill-openings  to  the  sides;  pseudobranchiae  present;  branchiostegals  3;  margin 
of  upper  jaw  formed  in  the  middle  by  the  small  premaxillaries,  and  on  the 
sides  by  the  maxillaries;  jaws  toothless;  lower  pharyngeal  bones  falciform, 
armed  with  a  sing  e  row  of  numerous  comb-like  teeth;  mouth  usually  pro- 
tractile and  with  fleshy  lips  (sucker-like);  alimentary  canal  long;  stomach 
simple:  no  pyloric  caeca;  air-bladder  large,  divided  into  2  or  3  parts  by  trans- 
verse constrictions,  not  surrounded  by  a  bony  capsule,  communicating  with 
oesophagus  by  a  slender  open  duct. 

One  of  the  most  striking  characteristics  of  the  fish  fauna  of 
Illinois,  and  indeed  of  the  whole  Mississippi  Valley,  is  the  prom- 
inence of  the  sucker  family,  which  includes,  within  the  limits 
of  this  state,  eight  genera  and  fifteen  recognized  species,  several 
of  them  among  the  most  abundant  and  most  generally  distributed 
of  our  larger  fishes. 


62  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

The  family  is  found  in  the  fresh  waters  of  North  America  at 
large,  in  which  about  15  genera  and  60  species  occur;  and  there 
are  2  species  also  in  eastern  Asia.  They  range  in  length  from  6 
inches  to  3  feet.  The  suckers  have  usually  been  regarded  by 
European  writers  as  a  subfamily  of  Cyprinidce,  from  which  they 
differ  chiefly  in  the  structure  of  the  mouth  and  the  lower  pharyn- 
geal  bones.  They  are  generally  of  sluggish  habit  and,  as  a  rule, 
prefer  water  of  good  depth  and  little  current,  but  some  of  them 
may  be  found  in  almost  every  stream  and  pond  within  their 
range.  Their  spring  migration  is  familiar  to  all  fishermen,  and 
to  many  who  do  not  fish,  all  of  our  species  running  up  the 
smaller  streams  in  May  or  June  to  deposit  their  eggs.  The  males 
of  most  species  develop  black  or  red  pigment  on  the  body  and 
fins  in  spring,  and  in  many  kinds  peculiar  wart-like  tubercles, 
called  pearl  organs,  appear  at  this  season  on  the  head,  fins,  and 
caudal  peduncle. 

The  suckers  are,  on  the  whole,  an  unusually  homogeneous 
group  as  represented  in  Illinois,  not  only  agreeing  in  the  character 
of  their  feeding  structures  which  gives  them  their  common 
name,  but  unusually  similar  also  in  their  movements,  habits, 
modes  of  life,  and  places  of  most  frequent  resort.  They  feed, 
without  exception,  on  the  bottom  of  the  waters  they  inhabit, 
and  commonly  on  substantially  the  same  kinds  of  food,  differing 
somewhat  in  respect  to  the  places  in  which  they  seek  it.  The 
buffalo-fishes,  for  example,  are  from  2^  to  3  times  as  abundant 
in  our  collections  from  the  bottom-land  lakes  as  they  would  be 
if  they  had  been  equally  distributed  throughout  all  waters.  In 
other  words,  the  frequency  coefficient  of  one  of  the  two  buffaloes 
is  2.26  for  lowland  lakes  and  that  of  the  other  is  2.93.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  common  sucker,  the  chub-sucker,  and  the  striped 
sucker  show  a  decided  preference  for  the  smaller  streams,  their 
coefficients  of  frequency  in  creeks  being  4.27,  3.41,  and  3.17  for 
the  three  species  respectively.  The  most  marked  departure 
from  the  average  habit  of  the  family  is  made  by  the  hogsucker, 
or  stone-roller  (Catostomus  nigricans),  which  especially  frequents 
swift  water  on  rocky  stretches  of  the  larger  streams,  filling  there 
the  place  which  the  darters  occupy  in  creeks  and  brooks. 

Notwithstanding  these  divergencies  in  local  distribution,  the 
family  as  a  whole  forms  a  rather  definite  ecological  group,  as  is 
shown  especially  by  the  frequency  with  which  representatives  of 
the  several  species  are  found  in  company  in  the  same  situations 
and  appear  together,  consequently,  in  our  collections.  The 


CATOSTOMID.E — THE   SUCKERS  63 

average  frequency  of  this  joint  occurrence  of  the  species  of 
suckers  and  buffaloes  in  collections  is  decidedly  greater,  accord- 
ing to  our  experience,  .than  the  corresponding  average  for  the 
darters  or  the  sunfish,  being  represented,  for  suckers,  by  the 
general  coefficient  of  2.45,  for  darters  by  2.02,  and  for  sunfish — 
that  is,  the  Centrarchidce  exclusive  of  the  black  bass — by  1.87. 

When  full  grown,  the  majority  of  the  species  are  safe  from 
any  enemies  of  their  kind  which  the  water  contains,  but  their 
survival  to  adult  age  is  dependent  on  their  fortune  in  escaping 
from  a  host  of  predaceous  and  voracious  fishes  against  which 
they  have  no  defense,  and  to  whose  depredations  their  haunts 
and  habits  freely  expose  them.  In  the  food  of  1,221  Illinois 
fishes,  representing  87  species,  studied  by  the  senior  author 
during  the  dozen  years  preceding  1888,  suckers  and  buffalo-fish 
were  found  most  frequently  in  the  food  of  the  pike,  but  occurred 
also  in  that  of  dogfish,  bullheads,  sheepsheads,  and  sunfish. 
The  sucker  family  would  evidently  suffer  much  more  severely, 
however,  if  it  were  not  for  the  presence  in  the  waters  they  in- 
habit of  the  gizzard-shad,  more  abundant,  and  probably  more 
accessible  to  pike  and  other  predaceous  fishes,  than  are  either 
suckers  or  young  buffaloes.  It  is  an  interesting  illustration  of 
the  way  in  which  companion  species  having  little  or  nothing  to 
do  with  each  other  directly  may  nevertheless  greatly  influence 
each  others'  welfare,  that  while  20  pike  out  of  37  had  eaten 
gizzard-shad,  which  made,  in  fact,  nearly  half  the  food  of  the 
entire  number,  only  3  per  cent,  of  their  food  came  from  the  sucker 
family,  and  this  had  been  eaten  only  by  three  of  the  pike. 

Examining  the  other  side  of  the  food  relation,  we  find  that 
the  food  of  this  family  itself,  as  illustrated  by  a  careful  study  of 
the  stomach  contents  of  109  specimens,  belonging  to  five  genera 
and  eleven  species,  consisted  mainly  of  the  smaller  mollusks 
living  in  the  mud  and  larvae  of  aquatic  insects,  the  two  being 
about  equal  in  ratio  and  together  making  more  than  three  fourths 
of  the  entire  food.  Vegetation  contributed  less  than  10  per  cent, 
to  the  mass  examined,  and  no  element  of  this  class  was  especially 
prominent. 

The  structures  of  alimentation  vary  noticeably  in  definite 
directions  as  one  passes  along  the  series  from  the  most  cylindrical 
suckers  to  the  thin  and  deep-bodied  buffalo  and  carp.  In  the 
former  the  pharyngeal  bones  are  heavy,  and  the  lower  teeth  are 
thick  and  strong,  usually  with  a  well-developed  grinding  surface, 
while  the  gill-rakers  are  short,  thick,  and  few,  and  the  intestine  is 


64  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

comparatively  short  and  large.  As  the  body  deepens,  the  pharyn- 
geal  bones  become  longer,  the  pharyngeal  teeth  smaller  and  more 
numerous,  with  diminished  grinding  surface;  the  gill-rakers  are 
longer  and  more  numerous,  making  a  more  effective  straining 
apparatus,  and  the  intestines  become  longer  and  smaller.  Cor- 
responding to  these  differences  of  structure,  mollusks  form  a 
larger  percentage  of  the  food  of  the  cylindrical  suckers,  and 
Entomostraca  and  vegetable  food  a  very  much  greater  part  of 
that  of  the  deep-bodied  species.  All  the  species  commonly 
swallow  much  mud,  since  they  collect  most  of  their  food  from 
the  bottom  by  suction,  to  which  their  protractile  mouths  and 
fleshy  lips  are  peculiarly  adapted. 

As  food  fishes  they  do  not  hold  a  high  place,  the  flesh  being 
rather  coarse,  dry,  and  either  flavorless  or  strong,  and  always  pro- 
vokingly  full  of  small  bones.  The  buffalo  and  sucker  fishery  is 
nevertheless  an  important  one  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the 
Great  Lake  region.  (See  under  Ictiobus.)  Of  the  15  species 
found  in  the  waters  of  the  Illinois  alone,  about  one  third  have 
a  greater  or  less  commercial  value. 

KEY  TO  THE  GENERA  OF  CATOSTOMID^E  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Dorsal  fin  elongate,  with  25  to  40  developed  rays. 

b.  Posterior   fontanelle   almost   obliterated   by   the    union    of   the   parietals;    head 

small  and  slender,  its  length  6  to  7  times  in  body;   lips  with  several  series 

of  tubercle-like  papillse Cycleptus. 

bb.  Posterior  fontanelle  well  developed,  extending  forward  between  frontals  a 
distance  equal  to  more  than  %  of  their  length;  head  3%  to  5  times  in  body; 
lips  plicate,  striate,  or  smooth 

c.  No  anterior   fontanelle,   the   frontals   being   closely   joined    with   the   ethmoid; 

cheek  somewhat  shallow  and  foreshortened,  distance  from  eye  to  lower 
posterior  angle  of  preopercle  about  %  of  that  to  upper  corner  of  gill-cleft; 
subopercle  broadest  at  its  middle,  subsemicircular Ictiobus. 

cc.  Anterior  fontanelle  well  developed,  separating  anterior  edges  of  frontals  and 
notching  ethmoid;  cheek  relatively  deep  and  long,  eye  about  equidistant 
between  upper  corner  of  gill-cleft  and  infra-posterior  angle  of  preopercle; 
subopercle  broadest  below  its  middle,  subtriangular Carpiodes. 

aa.    Dorsal  fin  short,  with  10  to  18  developed  rays. 

d.  Lateral  line  more  or  less  incomplete  or  wholly  wanting;   scales  large  and  uni- 

formly distributed,  30  to  50  in  lateral  line. 

e.  Lateral  line  entirely  wanting  at  all  ages Erimyzon. 

ee.    Lateral  line  more  or  less  developed  in  adults Minytrema. 

dd.    Lateral  line  complete  and  continuous. 

f.  Scales  small  and  crowded  anteriorly,  the  number  in  the  lateral  line  55  to  110 

(except  in  C.  nigricans,  for  which  see  below  ff) Catostomus. 

ff.     Scales  large  and  nearly  equal  all  over  the  body,  40  to  55  in  the  lateral  line. 

g.  Air-bladder  in  two  parts;  scales  48  to  55  in  lateral  line 

Catostomus   (Hypentelium)    nigricans. 

gg.     Air-foladder  in  three  parts;   scales  larger,  40  to  50  in  lateral  line. 
h.     Upper  lip  protractile,  lower  entire  or  incised  only  part  way  to  anterior  margin. 

i.     Pharyngeal  teeth  compressed;   mouth  wholly  inferior Moxostoma. 

ii.     Lower  pharyngeal   teeth   much   enlarged,   subcylindrical   and   truncate;    mouth 

somewhat  oblique,  lips  very  thick Placopharynx. 

hh.     Upper  lip  not  protractile;  lower  lip  in  two  separate  lobes Lagochila. 


c- 

_o 


fi 

S| 


11 

* 


CYCLEPTUS  65 

GENUS  CYCLEPTUS  RAFINESQUE 

Body  elongate,  little  compressed,  caudal  peduncle  very  long;  head  very 
small,  short  and  slender;  mouth  small,  inferior;  lips  tuberculate.  The 
skeleton  is  remarkable  for  deficiencies  of  ossification  and  other  features 
which  may  indicate  affinity  with  a  primitive  catostomoid  stock.  Forward 
portion  of  chondrocranium  strongly  developed,  the  trabeculse  fusing  anteriorly 
into  a  broad  and  thick  ethmoid  plate,  which  is  continuous  in  front  with  the 
bulbular  cartilages  of  the  end  of  the  vomer,  and  above  with  the  broad  girdle- 
like  tegmen  cranii;  bones  of  skull  somewhat  heavy,  their  exposed  surfaces 
more  or  less  rough;  prefrontals,  meso-  and  ento-pterygoids  very  spongy, 
and  other  bones  subject  in  varying  degrees  to  incompleteness  of  ossification; 
sutures  very  distinct,  never  close  and  strongly  joined,  with  cartilage  between 
the  edges  of  the  articulating  elements  in  many  instances;  configuration  of 
roofing  bones  of  brain  case  and  orbits  much  as  in  Ictiobus;  nasal  foramen 
closed  externally  by  a  sieve-like  plate;  a  small  supraorbital  bone  intervening 
between  lateral  wings  of  prefrontal  and  frontal;  posterior  fontanelle  repre- 
sented by  a  small  opening  at  intercalation  of  supraoccipital  and  frontals; 
anterior  fontanelle  present,  notching  ethmoid  and  extending  a  short  distance 
backward  between  frontals;  sub-  and  inter -operculum  and  branchiostegals 
rather  small;  pharyngeal  bones  narrow  and  spongy,  the  teeth  from  25  to  35 
in  number,  the  lower  ones  somewhat  compressed  but  strong,  the  remaining 
teeth  weak,  diminishing  rapidly  in  size  upward;  vertebrae  49  in  number,  rather 
heavy  and  poorly  sculptured;  ribs  13,  short  and  weak;  floating  pairs  14,  very 
slender  and  thread-like,  their  parapophyses  (vertebrae  17  to  30)  short  and 
stout  and  similar  in  form  and  size,  with  distal  extremities  expanded  and  their 
free  margins  crenate;  air-bladder  in  two  parts,  the  posterior  very  long  and 
slender  and  much  tapered  behind,  furnished  interiorly  with  a  spiral  band  of 
supporting  cartilage;  dorsal  rays  about  30,  the  first  rays  elongated,  about  half 
the  length  of  the  fin;  scales  elongate,  with  a  broad  membranous  posterior 
border;  lateral  line  complete,  a  peculiar  and  conspicuous  membranous  area 
about  the  posterior  terminus  of  each  tube.  Mississippi  Valley;  one  species 
known. 

CYCLEPTUS  ELONGATUS   (LE  SUEUR) 
MISSOURI  SUCKER;  BLACK-HORSE 

Le  Sueur,  1817,  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  103   (Catostomus). 

G.,  VII,  23  (Sclerognathus);   J.  &  G.(  121;    M.  V.,  46;    J.  &  E.,  I,  168;   N.,  50;   J.,  64; 
P.,  81;   L.,  12. 

Body  elongate,  little  compressed  and  the  back  little  elevated,  depth 
4  to  5  in  length.  Size  large;  length  2^  feet.  Color  dark,  bluish  black  about 
head;  fins  dusky  to  black;  spring  males  almost  black,  the  head  covered  with 
small  tubercles.  Head  very  small  and  slender,  conic,  its  length  5.8  to  6.4, 
width  8.2  to  8.8,  depth  8.1  to  8.5  in  length  of  body;  snout  fleshy,  tapering 
to  the  bluntly  pointed  muzzle,  which  extends  considerably  beyond  the 
decidedly  inferior  mouth;  distance  from  eye  to  muzzle  2  to  2.2  in  head; 
mouth  small,  its  width  from  5.8  to  6  in  head;  lips  rather  thick,  protractile 


66  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

almost  directly  downward,  each  furnished  with  5  or  6  rows  of  strongly  de- 
veloped tubercle-like  papilla?;  lower  lip  incised  behind;  eye  very  small,  located 
a  little  back  of  center  of  head,  6  to  8.3  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  convex, 
about  2  in  head.  Dorsal  rays  31  to  32,  the  first  two  developed  rays  elevated 
to  about  %  the  length  of  base  of  fin,  the  succeeding  rays  rapidly  shortened 
to  about  the  eighth,  the  remaining  rays  all  low  and  of  about  equal  height; 
position  of  dorsal  well  forward,  the  distance  from  insertion  of  fin  to  muzzle 
2.2  to  2.4  in  length  of  body;  caudal  deeply  forked,  the  lobes  about  equal. 
Scales  9  or  10, 55-58, 8-10,  much  longer  than  broad,  much  crowded  on  nape, 
breast,  and  belly,  and  at  base  of  dorsal  fin;  lateral  line  complete. 

This  peculiar  species,  the  only  one  of  its  genus,  is  confined 
to  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi  rivers.  It  is  reported  abundant 
at  Pittsburgh,  but  is  not  common  in  the  Mississippi  above  the 
latitude  of  Quincy.  It  is  frequently  taken  in  spring  at  Cairo 
and  at  Grafton,  on  the  Mississippi,  and  in  the  lower  part  of 
Rock  River,  but  it  disappears  from  the  product  of  the  fisheries, 
except  for  an  occasional  specimen,  about  the  last  of  June,  as 
soon  as  the  spring  run  is  over.  It  is  also  caught  in  spring  in 
considerable  quantities  in  the  Illinois  River,  but  much  less 
abundantly  now  than  in  former  years.  To  Illinois  and  Missis- 
sippi River  fishermen  in  this  state  it  is  commonly  known  as  the 
Missouri  sucker,  or  occasionally  as  the  black  sucker.  The 
name  "black-horse"  we  have  not  found  in  current  use. 

It  reaches  a  length  of  2  or  2^  feet,  and  Ashlock  reports 
specimens  taken  at  Alton  of  a  weight  of  16  pounds.  As  a  food 
fish  it  is  the  best  of  the  suckers.  It  is  caught  on  set-lines  as  well 
as  in  fyke-nets  and  with  seines.  Its  habits  are  but  little  known, 
but  it  apparently  lives  in  the  deeper  water  of  the  river  channels, 
except  during  the  spawning  migration.  Eggs  are  deposited 
in  May  and  June. 

GENUS  ICTIOBUS  EAPINESQUB 

Body  robust,  compressed,  both  dorsal  and  ventral  outlines  curved;  head 
rather  large;  mouth  terminal  or  slightly  inferior;  lips  thin,  plain  or  more  or 
less  strongly  plicate,  the  upper  protractile,  the  lower  lobed  at  corners  of 
mouth,  plicate.  The  generally  heavier  bones,  with  more  or  less  roughened 
surfaces,  and  the  different  configuration  of  certain  cranial  elements  (see  key 
to  genera  of  Catostomidce)  in  Ictiobus  furnish  the  most  reliable  means  of  dis- 
tinction between  this  genus  and  Carpiodes.  Frontals  joined  closely  with 
ethmoid,  obliterating  anterior  fontanelle,  posterior  fontanelle  large,  some- 
what narrowed  forward,  its  posterior  margin  formed  by  the  supraoccipital; 
a  supraorbital  bone  present;  suboperculum  symmetrically  rounded,  sub- 
semicircular,  broadest  at  its  middle;  cheek  shorter  and  not  so  deep  as  in 
Carpiodes,  the  lower  posterior  border  of  the  preopercle  a  gentle  curve,  the. 


ICTIOBUS  67 

eye  evidently  closer  to  the  angle  of  the  preopercle  than  to  the  upper  corner 
of  the  gill-cleft;  pharyngeal  bones  broad,  but  thin  and  weak,  the  teeth  short 
and  compressed;  vertebra?  36;  air-bladder  in  two  parts;  dorsal  fin  long,  with 
from  25  to  30  rays,  the  anterior  rays  produced,  about  Yi  the  length  of  base 
of  fin,  scales  roundish;  lateral  line  complete;  color  rather  dark,  never  silvery; 
sexual  differences  slight. 

Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  and  their  larger  tributaries;  three 
species  known,  all  of  them  common  to  our  larger  streams.  These 
fishes  are  the  largest  in  size  of  the  Catostomidce,  not  infrequently 
reaching  a  length  of  3  feet  and  a  weight  of  50  pounds.  The  name 
"  buffalo-fish  "  refers  to  the  bull-like  hump  at  the  nape  in  old  indi- 
viduals. The  relationships  of  these  fishes  with  the  carp  are  re- 
mote. The  view,  not  uncommon  among  fishermen,  that  carp  and 
buffalo  interbreed  is  not  supported  by  any  facts  in  our  knowledge, 
and  is  probably  based  solely  on  the  superficial*  resemblance  of  the 
buffalo  and  the  carp  in  the  form  of  the  body  and  of  the  dorsal  fin. 

The  species  are  gregarious  and  nocturnal,  coming  out  at 
night  on  bars  not  frequented  by  them  by  day,  and  where  they 
may  be  readily  reached  by  the  seine.  Fishermen  report  that 
they  move  into  lakes  in  cold  weather,  spending  the  winter  as 
much  as  possible  in  weedy  water.  They  are  said  to  dig  holes  in 
the  bottom,  like  the  European  carp.  This  genus  includes  closely 
related  species  of  identical  general  distribution  in  Illinois,  but  dif- 
fering noticeably  in  respect  to  the  structures  of  food  selection,  and 
likewise  to  some  extent  in  situations  preferred,  one  of  the  more 
abundant  species  especially  (bubalus)  habitually  occurring  in 
deeper  water  than  the  other.  In  the  red-mouth  buffalo  (cypri- 
nella)  the  pharyngeal  jaws  are  lighter  than  in  bubalus,  their  teeth 
have  a  smaller  grinding  surface,  and  the  gill-rakers  are  longer 
and  more  numerous. 

The  feeding  habits  of  the  buffaloes,  like  those  of  all  the  fishes 
inhabiting 'the  muddy  waters  of  central  Illinois,  are  difficult  of 
observation,  but  several  fishermen  and  other  river  men  have  re- 
ported to  us  that  these  fishes  have  the  habit  of  whirling  around  in 
shallow  water,  or  plowing  steadily  along  with  their  heads  buried 
in  the  mud,  their  bodies  in  an  oblique  position,  and  their  tails 
occasionally  showing  above  the  surface.  These  operations  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  act  of  spawning,  and  probably  indicate  a 
search  for  small  mollusks  and  insect  larvae  living  in  the  mud. 
Buffaloes  breed  in  the  spring,  depositing  their  eggs  in  great  num- 

*  The  presence  of  the  conspicuous  maxillary  barbels  in  the  carp,  entirely  wanting  in  the 
buffalo  and  the  heavy  serrated  dorsal  spine  of  the  carp — all  fins  of  the  buffalo  being  spineless 
— are  sufficient  marks  of  distinction. 


68  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

bers  near  the  edges  of  sloughs.  Fishermen  on  the  Illinois  say 
that  their  set-nets  become  coated  with  eggs  when  spawning  is  in 
progress.  All  species  spawn  early,  ordinarily  in  April.  Mosher 
(Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1885,  p.  190)  has  described  their  spawn- 
ing behavior.  They  proceed  shoreward  in  shallow  water  to  de- 
posit their  eggs,  each  female  forming  the  center  of  a  bunch  of  3 
to  8  males.  The  oviposition  is  attended  with  a  tremendous 
splashing,  which  on  a  still  evening  may  be  heard  a  mile.  The 
people  call  it  tumbling;  in  fact  it  is  a  sight  which  once  seen 
will  never  be  forgotten. 

Buffaloes  form  a  large  part  of  the  fish  catch  in  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  11,491,000  Ib  having  been  taken  from  the  Missis- 
sippi and  its  tributaries  in  1903.  The  annual  product  of  the 
Illinois  River  and  its  tributary  streams,  although  decreasing 
considerably  during  the  past  twenty  years,  is  now  about  3,000,- 
000  Ib.  The  flesh  of  the  buffalo,  while  perhaps  superior  to  that 
of  the  carp,  is  not  much  more  esteemed,  and  brings  a  low  price. 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  ICTIOBUS  FOUXD  ix  ILLIXOIS 

a.  Mouth    large,    oblique,   upper   lip    about   on   level    with   lower   margin    of   orbit, 

angle  of  mandible  with  horizontal  more  than  40°;  maxillary  as  long  as  snout; 

lips  thin  and  nearly  smooth cyprinella. 

aa.  Mouth  smaller,  little  oblique,  level  of  upper  lip  about  midway  between  chin 
and  lower  margin  of  orbit,  angle  of  mandible  with  horizontal  slight,  less 
than  20°;  maxillary  not 'more  than  %  length  of  snout;  lips  more  or  less 
coarsely  striate. 

b.  Back  scarcely  elevated,  depth  3  to  S1^  in  length urus. 

bb.    Back  elevated  and  compressed,  depth  2%  to  2%  in  length bubalus. 

ICTIOBUS  CYPRINELLA  (Ctmra  &  VALENCIENNES) 

RED-MOUTH    BUFFALO;    BIG-MOUTH    BUFFALO 
(MAP  IX) 

Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  1844,  XVII,  477  (Sclerognathus). 

G.,  VII,  24   (Sclerognathus);   J.  &  G.,  114   (bubalus);    M.  V.,  44;    J.  &  E.,  I,  163;    X., 

49  (bubalus);  J.,  65  (bubalus);  F.,  82;  F.  F.,  I.  2,  81  (bubalus),  II.  7,  451   (cypri- 

nellus);  L.,  11. 

Body  elliptical,  robust,  dorsal  outline  but  little  more  curved  than  ven- 
tral; body  compressed  somewhat  more  above  than  below  median  axis,  but 
nowhere  keeled,  being  rather  broadly  rounded  at  belly  and  nape;  greatest 
depth  from  2.8  to  3.3  in  length,  usually  3.  Size  large,  reaching  a  length  of 
2^2  feet  and  a  weight  of  40  Ib.  General  coloration  a  dull  brownish  olive, 
never  silvery,  fins  dusky.  In  breeding  dress  top  of  head  slate  with  a  tinge 
of  greenish,  cheeks  and  opercles  olive-green;  upper  part  of  body,  except  in 
front  of  dorsal,  of  a  coppery  tint ;  region  of  median  axis  a  pale  green ;  ventral 


ICTIOBUS 


69 


FIG.  14 


region  white  dulled  with  bluish;  predorsal  region  and  upper  part  of  caudal 
peduncle  slate;  dorsal  and  caudal  fins  drab-gray;  anal  dusky  olive;  ventrals 
lighter;  pectorals  dull  white  under  olive.  Head  large  and  heavy,  its  length 
from  3.3  to  3.7,  depth  3.9  to  4.2,  width  4.8  to  5.2  in  length  of  body;  snout 
blunt  and  broadly  rounded;  inter- 
orbital  space  convex,  2  to  2.4  in 
head;  snout  separated  from  frontal 
region  of  head  by  a  slight  trans- 
verse depression  in  front  of  orbits, 
giving  it  a  turned-up  appearance; 
mouth  large  and  wide,  terminal, 
protractile  forward,  very  oblique, 
upper  edge  of  mandible  about 
reaching  level  of  median  axis,  upper 
lip  almost  on  a  level  with  lower  mar- 
gin of  orbit;  mandibles  strong  and 
broad,  forming  a  wide  protruding 
angle  at  their  union  with  the 
quadrate;  lips  thinner  and  smoother 
than  in  other  species  of  Ictiobus, 
upper  very  thin  and  nearly  smooth, 
lower  thicker  and  somewhat  lobed 

at  corners,  rather  faintly  and  finely  striate;  eye  5.6  to  7  in  head,  situated 
well  forward;  opercle  strongly  striated  and  very  broad.  Dorsal  rays  24  to 
28,  longest  ray  a  little  more  than  half  the  base  of  fin;  caudal  not  deeply 
forked;  anal  short,  inserted  under  last  rays  of  dorsal;  ventrals  falling  about 
as  short  of  vent  as  pectorals  do  of  ventrals.  Scales  large,  uniform  in  size 
and  evenly  distributed,  rather  loosely  imbricated,  their  number  7  or  8,  37 
to  40,  6  or  7;  lateral  line  complete,  rather  flexuose  posteriorly  and  somewhat 
abruptly  elevated  in  front  of  dorsal  fin. 

Sexual  differences  slight,  the  males  averaging  a  little  smaller  in  size  and 
darker  in  color  than  the  females;  spring  males  without  tubercles. 

Distributed  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley,  in  rivers, 
lakes,  ponds,  and  larger  creeks;  also  in  the  Red  River  of  the 
North  to  Winnipeg.  It  does  not  occur  east  of  the  Alleghanies, 
nor  in  the  Great  Lakes. 

This  is  a  very  abundant  fish  in  our  larger  streams  and  in  the 
lakes  of  the  river  bottoms,  being  one  of  the  three  species  most 
commonly  shipped  from  the  Illinois  and  the  Mississippi  under  the 
name  of  "buffalo-fish."  It  is  taken  abundantly  in  the  latter 
river  at  Cairo,  Grafton,  and  Quincy,  and  is  one  of  the  important 
commercial  species  of  the  Illinois,  from  which  it  is  caught  in  large 
numbers  as  far  north  as  Henry.  It  is  much  less  abundant  now, 
however,  than  some  years  ago.  It  is  the  common  " buffalo-fish" 
of  the  fishermen,  and  generally  receives  no  more  distinctive 
name.  It  grows  to  a  large  size,  sometimes  reaching  a  weight  of 


70  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

50  pounds.  Although  its  flesh  is  of  poor  quality,  it  is  used 
everywhere  as  food. 

Its  structures  of  food  prehension  and  appropriation — the 
mouth,  the  gill-rakers,  and  the  pharyngeal  jaws  and  teeth — are 
so  constructed  as  to  enable  it  to  collect  its  food  readily  from  a 
muddy  bottom,  to  strain  away  the  greater  part  of  the  mud,  re- 
taining objects  large  enough  to  serve  as  food,  and  to  crush  and 
masticate  hard  or  shell-covered  objects,  unfit  for  digestion  entire. 
Its  pharyngeal  jaws  are  not  so  strong  as  those  of  bubalus,  the 
thickness  being  about  a  fourth  the  depth.  The  teeth  are  some 
seventy-five  in  number  on  each  jaw,  minute  above,  gradually  but 
not  greatly  thickened  below,  the  ten  lowest  occupying  nearly  a 
fifth  of  the  length  of  the  arch.  The  gills  are  compactly  disposed 
in  a  rather  small  branchial  chamber,  the  upper  ends  of  the  arches 
being  decurved  and  the  lower  elevated  so  that  each  gill  forms 
about  three  fourths  of  a  circle.  There  are  seventy-five  gill- 
rakers  in  the  anterior  row,  the  longer  of  which  are  fully  equal  in 
length  to  the  corresponding  gill-filaments,  and  eight  or  ten  of  the 
lower  rakers  are  fused  in  the  form  of  thick  oblique  ridges. 

About  a  third  of  the  food  of  seventeen  specimens  examined, 
consisted  of  algae,  seeds  of  aquatic  plants,  and  distillery  slops, 
the  last  obtained  off  the  Peoria  city  front  where  the  wastes  from 
distilleries  were  emptied  into  the  stream.  Of  the  remaining  two 
thirds,  nearly  half  consisted  of  Entomostraca,  and  more  than  half 
of  aquatic  insects,  very  largely  Chironomus  larvae  and  larvae 
of  day-flies. 

The  species  breeds  in  early  spring,  ordinarily  between  the 
10th  and  20th  of  April  (Capt.  Schulte).  In  1898  the  red-mouth 
spawned  between  the  15th  and  the  30th  of  that  month. 

ICTIOBUS  URUS  (AGASSIZ) 
MONGREL  BUFFALO;  ROUND  BUFFALO 

(PL,  p.  71;  MAP  X) 

Agassiz,  1854,  Amer.  J.  Sci.  Arts  (Silliman's  Journal),  XVII,  355   (Carpiodes). 
J.  &  G.  (Bubalichthys),  116;   M.  V.,  44;   J.  &  E.,  I,  164;   N.,  50  (Bubalichthys  niger); 
J.;  65  (Bubalichthys);  F.,  82;  F.  F.,  I.  2,  81  (Bubalichthys  niger),  II.  7,  452;   L., 

Body  robust,  elliptical,  the  dorsal  and  ventral  outlines  nearly  equally 
curved,  the  general  form  being  much  as  in  cyprinella  except  that  the  body 
is  somewhat  more  elongate  and  the  back  more  broadly  rounded  in  front  of 
dorsal;  depth  3  to  3.4  in  length.  Size  large,  about  as  in  last  species.  Color 
usually  darker  than  in  cyprinella,  a  dark  slaty  gray,  shading  to  almost  black 


ICTIOBUS 


71 


FIG.  15 


when  taken  from  clear  water;  all  fins  dark.     Head  thick  and  heavy,  its 

length  3.7  to  4,  depth  4  to  4.8,  width  4.9  to  5.6  in  length  of  body;  snout  very 

blunt  and  broadly  rounded,  its  profile  continuous  with  that  of  frontal  region ; 

interorbital  space  2  to  2.3  in  head;  mouth  moderate,  considerably  smaller 

than  in  last  species,  and  but  slightly  larger  than  in  next  species,  subterminal, 

protractile  forward  and  downward, 

as  a  rule  but  little  oblique,  the  edge 

of  the  mandible  falling  considerably 

below  median  axis,  level  of  upper  lip 

about  midway  between  chin  and 

lower  margin  of  orbit;  angle  formed 

by    articulation    of    mandible 

with    quadrate    evident,    but    less 

prominent  than  in  cyprinella;  lips 

rather  thin,  but  less  so  than  in  last 

species,  the  upper  faintly,  the  lower 

rather  coarsely,  striated;  eye  5.1  to 

6.6  in  head,  situated  well  upward 

and  forward;  opercles  not  so  broad 

as  in  the  last.     Dorsal  rays  29  or  30, 

the  longest  considerably  less  than 

3/2  base  of  fin;  other  fins  about  as 

in  the  preceding  species,  the  caudal 

not  quite  so  deeply  forked.     Scales  7  or  8,  36-40, 6  to  8;  lateral  line  complete, 

less  flexuose  posteriorly  and  not  so  abruptly  elevated  in  front  of  dorsal  as 

in  cyprinella. 

Spring  males  without  tubercles. 

The  mongrel  buffalo  appears  to  vary  somewhat  more  than 
either  /.  cyprinella  or  bubalus,  but  we  have  met  with  no  cases 
which  appear  to  show  intergradation  with  either.  This  species 
seems  to  be  always  distinguishable  from  the  former  by  its  much 
smaller  and  less  oblique  mouth,  the  upper  lip  falling  far  below 
the  level  of  the  lower  margin  of  the  orbit,  and  by  the  coarsely 
striate  lower  lips ;  from  the  latter  by  the  more  elongate  and  less 
compressed  body,  and  by  the  broad  rounding  of  the  frontal 
region  and  of  the  back  in  front  of  the  dorsal  fin. 

Distributed  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley  practically 
as  the  red-mouth  is,  but  less  abundantly. 

This  is  a  large  species,  sometimes  exceeding  50  pounds  in 
weight,  though  commonly  less  than  20.  It  resembles  the  red- 
mouth  in  habits  and  value. 

The  same  may  be  said  with  respect  to  its  food,  our  17  speci- 
mens, well  distributed  as  to  time  and  place  of  capture,  having 
taken  ratios  of  animal  and  vegetable  food  almost  identical  with 
those  of  cyprinella — 67  per  cent,  and  33  per  cent,  respectively. 
There  was  a  larger  ratio  of  mollusks  and  of  insects — the  latter 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


42  per  cent. — but  the  principal  species  of  each  were  the  same  as 
in  cyprinella.  The  Crustacea  (13  per  cent.)  were  almost  all 
Entomostraca,  a  young  crawfish  taken  by  one  of  the  buffaloes 
being  the  only  exception.  This  species  had  likewise  eaten 
distillery  slops  and  various  forms  of  aquatic  plants,  including 
duckweeds  and  unicellular  algae. 

This  buffalo  spawned  at  Havana  in  1898  between  the  15th 
and  the  30th  of  April,  but  ripe  females  were  caught  the  follow- 
ing year  as  late  as  May  29. 

ICTIOBUS  BUBALUS  (EAFIXESQUE) 

SMALL-MOUTH    BUFFALO;    RAZOR-BACKED    BUFFALO; 
QUILLBACK   BUFFALO 

(MAP  XI) 

Raflnesque,  1818,  J.  Phys.,  421  (Amblodon). 

G.,  VII,  22   (Sclerognathus  urus);   J.   &  G.,  116   (Bubalichthys  altus);    M.  V.,  44;   J. 

&  E.,  I,  164;    N.,  49,   (cyanellus);    J.,  66   (BubalichtKys  cyanellus);    F.,  82;    F.  F., 

II.  7,  448;  L,.,  11. 

Body  compressed,  back  much 
elevated;  ventral  line  not  much 
decurved;  back  in  front  of  dorsal 
fin  compressed  into  a  keel;  depth 
from  2.5  to  2.9  in  length  of  body. 
Size  somewhat  smaller  than  in  the 
two  preceding  species.  General 
coloration  much  as  in  cyprinella, 
but  becoming  paler  in  adults,  some- 
times exceedingly  so,  old  specimens 
usually  a  muddy  whitish,  with  but 
faint  traces  of  blue  and  coppery 
about  head  and  anterior  half  of 
body;  young  specimens  usually 
quite  dark,  the  head  dark  bluish  gray 
below;  all  fins  more  or  less  dusky. 
Head  smaller,  more  compressed, 
and  more  pointed  than  in  the  foregoing  species,  the  occipital  region  high  and 
sharply  arched  transversely,  length  of  head  3.6  to  4.1,  depth  4.4  to  5,  width 
5.1  to  5.8  in  body;  interorbital  space  2.1  to  2.6  in  head;  snout  pointed;  mouth 
small,  inferior,  protractile  downward  and  forward,  !n  size  and  form  some- 
times scarcely  distinguishable  from  that  of  the  last  species;  lips  rather  coarsely 
and  brokenly  plicate;  mandibles  nearly  horizontal,  scarcely  forming  an 
evident  angle  at  the  articulation  with  the  quadrate;  eye  4.4  to  6.2  in  head, 
rather  larger  than  in  either  of  the  preceding  species;  opercle  about  as  in  last. 
Dorsal  rays  27  to  30,  the  longest  a  little  less  than  half  base  of  fin;  caudal 
somewhat  more  deeply  forked  than  in  cyprinella  or  urus.  Scales  7  or  8, 
37-39, 5  to  7;  lateral  line  complete,  gently  flexuose. 

Head  and  snout  of  males  finely  tuberculate  in  spring. 


Fir,.  IP 


ICTIOBUS  73 

Distributed  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley  much  as  the 
other  buffalo  are,  but  tending  more  generally  to  deep  water, 
according  to  the  reports  of  fishermen. 

It  is  common  in  the  Mississippi  and  the  Illinois  rivers,  and 
in  the  principal  streams  of  the  state  at  large.  It  is  not  so 
frequently  taken  in  shallow  water  as  the  other  species,  and  it  is 
said  to  have  a  stronger  preference  for  flowing  streams.  Never- 
theless, it  must  be  said  that  more  than  two  thirds  of  the  speci- 
mens in  our  collections  came  from  lakes  and  sloughs,  the  greater 
part  of  the  remainder  being  from  rivers  of  the  larger  size. 

This  buffalo  does  not  average  as  large  as  the  preceding 
species,  its  maximum  weight  in  the  Mississippi  being,  according 
to  Mr.  Ashlock,  of  Alton,  less  than  40  lb. 

About  a  fifth  of  the  food  of  the  specimens  examined,  con- 
sisted of  vegetation,  mainly  duckweed,  but  with  an  occasional 
admixture  of  terrestrial  rubbish.  The  animal  food  was  divided, 
with  approximate  equality,  between  mollusks,  insects,  and 
Entomostraca,  the  latter  taken  chiefly  in  spring  when  they  are 
present  in  the  greatest  abundance.  The  food  of  the  young  of 
this  buffalo  consists  largely  of  the  minuter  forms  of  the  plankton, 
including  especially  Protozoa,  rotifers,  and  unicellular  algae. 

The  gill-rakers  of  this  species  are  less  numerous  than  those  of 
cyprinella  and  scarcely  so  long,  and  seem  to  form  a  less  efficient 
straining  apparatus.  The  pharyngeal  jaws  are  heavier,  triangu- 
lar in  section,  and  about  as  thick  as  high.  Seventeen  specimens 
of  this  species,  collected  from  the  Illinois  and  the  Mississippi  in 
various  months  from  April  to  October,  contained  aquatic  vege- 
tation amounting  to  about  a  third  of  the  total  food,  the  principal 
element  being  a  small  duckweed  (Wolffia)  especially  abundant 
where  a  part  of  the  fishes  were  taken,  and  amounting  in  some 
cases  to  95  per  cent,  of  the  contents  of  the  stomach.  A  larger 
duckweed,  fragments  of  horn  wort  (Ceratophyllum) ,  diatoms,  and 
other  unicellular  algae  had  also  been  eaten.  Animal  food  (80 
per  cent.)  was  fairly  equally  divided  between  mollusks,  insects, 
and  Crustacea,  the  first  (30  per  cent.)  being  mainly  a  thin-shelled 
bivalve  (Sphcerium)  common  in  the  mud.  Several  specimens 
had  eaten  nothing  but  this  mollusk.  Chironomus  larvae  and 
Entomostraca  were  the  principal  other  elements,  each  making 
practically  a  fifth  of  the  entire  food. 


74  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

GENUS  CARPIODES  EAFIXESQUE 

CARP-SUCKERS 

Body  more  or  less  thin  and  compressed,  becoming  deeper  and  more 
arched  above  with  age;  ventral  line  almost  straight  or  but  slightly  curved 
downward;  head  small,  short,  somewhat  compressed;  lips  thin  and  slightly 
striate;  bones  of  skull  with  generally  smoother  surfaces  and  not  so  heavy  as 
in  Ictiobus;  a  well-developed  anterior  fontanelle  at  intercalation  of  f rentals 
and  ethmoid;  a  supraorbital  bone  present;  posterior  fontanelle  narrowest 
behind,  its  posterior  margin  formed  by  theconvergingparietals;  suboperculum 
very  broad,  subtriangular,  its  greatest  breadth  below  middle;  cheek  deep 
and  long,  the  lower  posterior  border  of  the  preopercle  somewhat  angled,  the 
center  of  orbit  equidistant  between  its  infraposterior  angle  and  the  upper 
corner  of  the  gill-cleft;  pharyngeal  bones  broad  but  very  thin,  the  teeth 
very  much  compressed,  weaker  than  in  Ictiobus;  vertebrae  35  or  36;  air- 
bladder  in  two  parts;  dorsal  fin  long,  rays  23  to  30,  the  anterior  rays  some- 
times produced  into  a  long  filament  that  may  reach  almost  to  the  caudal; 
scales  large;  lateral  line  complete;  color  light,  usually  more  or  less  silvery; 
snout  tuberculate  in  spring  males  of  some  species  (difformis  and  velifer}. 

Four  species  of  these  fishes  are  known  in  Illinois,  mostly  of 
small  size,  seldom  over  12  inches  long,  and  of  little  or  no  com- 
mercial value.  The  name  of  carp  was  applied  to  them  by  the 
early  settlers  of  Virginia,  although  they  bear  only  a  general 
resemblance  to  the  European  species  of  that  name.  Since  the 
latter  was  introduced  into  our  waters  the  native  species  have 
been  called  " American  carp."  Since  they  belong  to  a  different 
family  from  the  foreign  species,  to  which  the  name  was  originally 
given,  the  common  name  of  carp-sucker,  already  considerably 
used,  is  much  to  be  preferred. 

In  Illinois  they  are  distributed  throughout  the  greater  rivers 
of  the  state  and  their  larger  tributaries,  and  occur  also  in  Lake 
Michigan  and  the  smaller  lakes  of  northern  Illinois.  They  are 
extremely  common  in  the  lakes  and  ponds  of  the  river  bottoms. 

The  carp-suckers  are  rather  filthy  feeders,  swallowing  a 
greater  quantity  of  mud  than  the  nearly  related  buffalo-fish. 
The  structures  of  food  prehension  carry  to  its  extreme  a  develop- 
ment of  the  gill-rakers  and  a  correlative  degradation  of  the 
pharyngeal  jaws  and  teeth.  The  pharyngeal  bones  are  very 
thin  and  brittle,  each  with  about  200  teeth,  minute  above  and 
gradually  enlarging  downwards,  but  not  thickening  or  lengthen- 
ing greatly  on  the  lower  part  of  the  arch.  The  intestine  is  very 
slender,  and  about  four  times  as  long  as  the  head  and  body 
taken  together.  The  gills  are  remarkably  compacted,  the  upper 


CARPIODES — CAKP-SUCKERS  75 

and  lower  ends  nearly  meeting  when  the  mouth  is  closed,  and 
the  longest  of  the  anterior  series  are  a  little  longer  than  the 
corresponding  filaments. 

Nineteen  specimens,  representing  13  localities  from  extreme 
northern  to  extreme  southern  Illinois,  and  various  dates  from 
April  to  October,  indicate  that  our  native  carp  differ  from  their 
near  allies,  the  buffalo-fishes,  in  the  smaller  amount  of  vegetation 
eaten,  in  the  greater  quantity  of  mud  mingled  with  the  food,  and 
in  a  deficiency  of  the  larger  insect  larvae.  The  vegetable  food  of 
these  specimens  was  only  8  per  cent.,  mostly  the  small  duckweed, 
Wolffia.  Mollusks  made  about  a  fourth  of  the  food,  all  the  thin- 
shelled  bivalve  Sphcerium.  Insects  averaged  about  a  third,  the 
greater  part  larvae  of  Chironomus.  Entomostraca  made  nearly  a 
fourth,  and  included  a  considerable  list  and  variety  of  our 
more  abundant  species. 


KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  CARPIODES  FOUXD  ix  ILLIXOIS 

a.  Snout  short,  3%  to  4%   in  head;   nostrils  well  forward,  the  distance  from  an- 

terior nostril  to  end  of  snout  considerably  less  than  diameter  of  eye;   tip  of 
lower  jaw  little  in  advance  of  nostrils. 

b.  Body  robust,  subfusiform,   depth   2%   to   3   in  length;    snout  obtusely  pointed; 

eye  moderate,  4%   to  5  in  head;    anterior  rays   of  dorsal   scarcely  elevated, 

osseous  at  base;  large  species,  reaching  over  5  tb  in  weight carpio. 

bb.  Body  thin  and  compressed,  the  back  much  elevated  in  adults,  depth  2%  to 

2%  in  length;  snout  very  blunt,  squarish  at  tip;  eye  large,  3%  to  4%  in  head; 

anterior    rays    of    dorsal    much    lengthened,    sometimes    equaling    length    of 

base  of  fin;  small  species,  not  over  12  inches  in  length difformis. 

aa.  Snout  longer,  3  to  3%  in  head;  nostrils  situated  well  back,  the  distance  from 

anterior  nostril  to  end  of  snout  usually  greater  than   diameter  of  eye;    tip 

of  lower  jaw  far  in  advance  of  nostrils. 

c.  Body  robust,  subfusiform,  depth  2%   to  3%  in  length;   anterior  rays  of  dorsal 

scarcely  elevated,  about  %  length  of  base  of  fin;  halves  of  lower  tip  meeting 

at  a  wide  angle;  large  species,  reaching  a  weight  of  5Ib thompsoni. 

cc.  Body  compressed,  the  back  more  or  less  arched,  depth  2%  to  3  in  length; 
anterior  rays  of  dorsal  much  elevated,  nearly  or  more  than  equaling  length 
of  base  of  fin;  halves  of  lower  lip  meeting  at  a  sharp  angle;  species  of  small 
size,  not  exceeding  12  inches vel  ifer. 


76  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


FIG.  17 


CARPIODES  CARPIO  (RAFINESQUE) 

COMMON    RIVER   CARP 

(MAP  XII) 

Raflnesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  56  (Catostomus). 

J.  &  G.,  118;  M.  V.,  45  (Ictiobus);  J.  &  E.,  I,  166;   N.,  49  (Ichthyobus  carpio  and  (?) 
bison);  J.,  65  (carpio  and  (?)  bison);  F.,  81  (Ictiobus  cyprinus,  part);   L.,  11, 

Body  elongate,  subelliptical,  somewhat  compressed,  but  more  fusiform 
than  in  the  next  species,  the  back  not  greatly  arched  and  the  ventral  line 
nearly  straight;  depth  2.9  to  3.3  in  length.  Size  large,  frequently  taken 
weighing  3  or  4  Ib  and  said  sometimes  to  reach  a  weight  of  7  or  8  Ib.  Color 
smoky  to  olivaceous  over  silvery,  lighter  below.  Head  short,  deep  and 
heavy,  its  length  4  to  4.4,  depth  4.9  to  5.4,  width  6  to  6.8  in  length  of  body; 
snout  short,  somewhat  pointed,  3.3  to  4.1  in  head;  the  nostrils  well  forward, 
but  not  quite  so  much  so  as  in  the  next  species,  the  distance  from  the  an- 
terior nostril  to  end  of  snout  %  to  ^  of  diameter  of  eye;  mouth  wide 
and  short,  wholly  inferior,  the  tip  of  lower  lip  very  slightly  in  advance  of 
nostrils;  lips  thin,  the  halves  of  lower  meeting  at  a  very  wide  angle  or  open 
curve;  interorbital  space  2.2  to  2.6  in  head;  eye  moderate,  4.4  to  5.1  in  head. 
Dorsal  rays  23  to  27,  the  first  rays  notably  osseous  at  base,  little  elongated, 
about  Y2  length  of  base  of  fin.  Scales  large,  6, 35-37,  6,  usually  35  or  36  in 
longitudinal  series;  lateral  line  complete,  almost  straight;  scales  (as  in  diffor- 
mis)  somewhat  thinner  and  less  closely  imbricated  than  in  thompsoni  and 
velifer. 

Occurs  throughout  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  valleys,  ranging 
southwest  to  central  Texas.  It  seldoms  ascends  the  smaller 
streams,  and  our  collections  have  come  mainly  from  the  Illinois 
at  Meredosia  and  Havana,  and  from  the  Mississippi  at  Graf  ton. 
We  have  not  found  it  anywhere  abundant.  It  is  said  by  Mis- 
sissippi River  fishermen  sometimes  to  reach  a  weight  of  10  Ib. 


CAEPIODES — CARP-SUCKERS  77 

It  is  sold  for  food,  but  is  flavorless  and  soft.     It  breeds  in  spring, 
but  the  time  of  spawning  is  not  indicated  by  our  notes. 

This  fish  is  closely  related  to  C.  difformis,  from  which  it  may 
be  distinguished  by  the  more  pointed  snout,  smaller  eye,  and 
more  robust,  subfusiform  body.  It  and  the  next  species  agree 
in  the  shortness  of  the  snout,  3^  to  4J/£  in  head,  and  in  the  an- 
terior position  of  the  nostrils,  and  both  are  by  these  marks 
readily  distinguishable,-  except  in  the  case  of  very  young  speci- 
mens, from  thompsoni  and  velifer,  in  which  species  the  snout  is 
notably  longer,  3  to  3J/2  in  head,  and  the  nostrils  are  situated 
far  back  from  the  end  of  the  snout,  the  distance  from  the  anterior 
nostril  to  the  end  of  the  muzzle  being  greater  than  the  diameter 
of  the  eye. 


FIG.  18 


CARPIODES  DIFFORMIS  COPE 

BLUNT-NOSED   EIVER   CARP 

(MAP  XIII) 

Cope,  1870,  P.  Amer.  Phil.  Soc.,  480. 

J.  &  G.,  120;  M.  V.,  45  (Ictiobus);   J.  &  E.,  I,  166;   N.,  49  (Ichthyobus) ;   J.,  65   (dif- 
formis and   (?)   cutisanserinus);    F.,  81   (Ictiobus  cyprinus,  part);    L.,  12. 

Body  short,  compressed,  the  back  much  arched,  ventral  surface  broad 
and  nearly  straight;  depth  2.4  to  2.7  in  length.  Size  small,  seldom  over  12 
inches  in  length.  Color  silvery,  obscured  above  by  smoky  olive,  much  as  in 
the  preceding  species.  Head  small,  short  and  deep,  its  length  3.9  to  4.3, 
depth  4.5  to  4.9,  width  5.7  to  6.4  in  length  of  body,  snout  short,  very  blunt, 
the  muzzle  squarish,  distance  from  eye  to  tip  3.9  to  4.5  in  head,  usually 
greater  than  4;  nostrils  near  tip  of  snout,  distance  from  anterior  nostril  to 
end  of  snout  being  ^  to  %  diameter  of  orbit;  mouth  wholly  inferior,  not 


78  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

quite  so  wide  as  in  the  last  species,  the  lips  somewhat  thicker,  weakly  plicate, 
the  halves  of  lower  meeting  at  a  rather  sharp  angle;  tip  of  lower  lip  scarcely 
in  advance  of  nostrils;  interorbital  space  2.2  to  2.5  in  head;  eye  larger  than 
in  other  species  of  Carpiodes,  3.9  to  4.6  in  head,  usually  but  little  more  than  4. 
Dorsal  rays  24  to  25,  the  first  rays  rather  osseous  at  base,  but  not  so  robust  as 
in  carpio,  and  as  a  rule  much  elongated,  sometimes  exceeding  in  length  the 
base  of  the  fin.  Scales  large,  6-7,  35-37,  6,  usually  35  or  36,  rather  loosely 
imbricated;  lateral  line  complete,  nearly  straight. 
Males  with  snout  tuberculate  in  spring. 

Ohio  Valley  and  westward;  generally  common.  Common 
in  our  collections,  seeming  to  prefer  the  shallow  waters  of  the 
smaller  streams,  where  the  young  are  often  found  in  large  num- 
bers; adults  taken  sparingly  in  the  Illinois  and  Rock  rivers. 

Represented  in  102  of  our  collections,  more  than  half  of 
which  are  from  creeks.  We  have  found  it  less  frequent  in  the 
larger  than  in  the  smaller  rivers,  and  still  less  so  in  lakes  and 
ponds.  The  size  is  small  and  the  species  is  of  little  value  as 
food.  It  is  abundantly  distributed  throughout  central  Illinois, 
but  has  occurred  less  commonly  in  our  southern  Illinois  collec- 
tions, and  is  absent  from  the  most  of  those  made  in  the  extreme 
northern  part  of  the  state.  It  apparently  avoids  in  great 
measure  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  having  been  taken  but 
five  times  by  us  within  that  area. 


CARPIODES  VELIFER  (RAFINESQTTE) 
QUILLBACK;  SILVER  CARP 

(PL.,  p.  74;  MAP  XIV) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  56  (Catostomus). 

J.  &  G.,  118  (tumidus),  119  (cyprinus);   M.  V.,  45  (Ictiobus);   J.  &  E.,  I,  167;   N..  49 
(Ichthyobus);  J.,  65;  F.,  81  (Ictiobus  cyprinus,  part);   L,.,  12. 

Body  ovate,  compressed,  back  much  arched  in  adults;  ventral  line 
Imost  straight;  depth  2.7  to  3  in  length.  Size  small,  seldom  exceeding  12 
inches.  Color  light  olive  abovej  sides  silvery,  fins  pale.  Head  moderate, 
its  length  3.6  to  4,  depth  4.3  to  5.2,  width  6  to  6.7  in  length  of  body;  snout 
long,  bluntly  pointed,  as  in  last  species,  2.9  to  3.5  in  head,  usually  less  than 
3.2;  nostrils  well  back,  distance  from  anterior  opening  to  end  of  snout  greater 
than  diameter  of  eye;  mouth  rather  narrow,  slightly  oblique,  tip  of  lower 
lip  far  in  advance  of  nostrils;  lips  weakly  plicate,  rather  thick,  the  lower 
halves  meeting  in  a  sharp  angle;  interorbital  space  2.3  to  2.5  in  head;  eye 
small,  4.8  to  5.5  in  head.  Dorsal  rays  27  to  30,  usually  27,  the  anterior 
rays  slender  and  elongate,  sometimes  longer  than  base  of  fin.  Scales  7, 
39-40,6;  lateral  line  complete,  usually  somewhat  flexuose. 


CARPIODES — CARP-SUCKERS 


FIG.  19 

This  species,  unlike  the  others  of  its  genus,  is  most  abundant 
in  northern  Illinois  and  least  so  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state. 
It  is  almost  wholly  wanting  from  our  southern  Illinois  collec- 
tions made  within  the  area  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation. 
Like  the  preceding  species,  however,  it  is  found  chiefly  in  the 
smaller  rivers  and  creeks,  nearly  twice  as  frequently  in  the  latter 
as  in  the  rivers  of  larger  size.  It  ascends  small  streams  freely 
at  the  time  of  the  spring  floods.  In  1898  it  spawned  at  Havana 
about  April  15.  The  snout  of  the  male  is  tuberculate  in  the 
spawning  season. 

CARPIODES  THOMPSONI  AGASSIZ 


LAKE    CARP 

(MAP  XV) 

Agassiz,  1855,  Amer.  J.  Sci.  Arts,  XIX,  76. 

J.  &  G.,  119;  M.  V.,  45  (Ictiobus);  J.  &  E.,  I,  167.;  N.,  49  (Ichthyobus) ;  J.,  65  (thomp- 
soni  and  (?)  selene) ;  F.,  81  (Ictiobus  cyprinus,  part). 

Body  elongate,  subfusiform,  the  back  little  arched  and  the  ventral  line 
nearly  straight,  in  general  form  and  proportions  very  close  to  C.  carpio, 
depth  2.8  to  3.2  in  length.  Larger  than  difformis  and  velifer,  known  to 
reach  a  weight  of  3  to  5  Ib,  and  said  by  lake  fishermen  to  grow  much  larger. 
Color  not  different  from  that  of  carpio.  Head  moderate,  its  length  3.7  to 
4,  depth  4.5  to  5.1,  width  5.7  to  6.4  in  length  of  body;  snout  long,  bluntly 
pointed,  3  to  3.4  in  head;  nostrils  situated  well  back  from  end  of  snout, 
distance  from  anterior  opening  to  tip  of  muzzle  greater  than  diameter  of 
eye;  mouth  narrower  and  longer  than  in  the  two  preceding  species,  sub- 


80  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

terminal  and  somewhat  oblique,  the  tip  of  the  lower  lip  far  in  advance  of 
the  nostrils;  lips  evidently  plicate,  not  very  thin,  the  halves  of  the  lower 
one  meeting  at  a  rather  wide  angle;  interorbital  space  2.4  to  2.7  in  head; 
eye  small,  5  to  6.4,  usually  more  than  5.5.  Dorsal  rays  25  to  30,  usually 
nearer  30,  anterior  rays  slender,  little  elevated,  scarcely  more  than  half  the 
length  of  base  of  fin.  Scales  somewhat  smaller  and  more  closely  imbricated 
than  in  the  two  preceding  species,  7,  38  to  40,  6,  usually  39  in  longitudinal 
series;  lateral  line  complete,  nearly  straight. 


FIG.  20 

This  species  can  be  separated  with  readiness  from  both  the 
preceding  by  its  longer  nose,  more  oblique  mouth,  and  more 
posterior  nostrils;  it  is  easily  distinguished  from  the  next  when 
adult  by  its  larger  size  and  by  the  differences  in  general  propor- 
tions, and  by  the  shortness  of  the  first  dorsal  rays.  The  young 
of  these  two  species  can  not  be  separated  with  any  certainty. 

This  carp-sucker  belongs  to  the  fauna  of  the  Great  Lake 
region  and  is  but  rarely  taken  in  the  inland  waters  of  Illinois, 
our  adult  specimens  numbering  a  very  few  from  the  Illinois 
river  at  Ottawa,  Henry,  Havana,  and  Meredosia.  It  is  too 
rare  in  our  waters  to  be  commercially  important.  Its  special 
habits  are  unknown. 


GENUS  ERIMYZON  JORDAN 

CHUB-SUCKERS 

Body  oblong,  more  or  less  compressed;  mouth  subinferior;  upper  lip 
protractile;  lower  lip  plicate,  infolded,  forming  an  acute  angle  in  front;  no 
anterior  fontanelle;  posterior  fontanelle  well  developed;  no  supraorbital 
bone,  suborbital  bones  well  developed,  not  much  narrower  than  the  fleshy 


ERIMYZON — CHUB-SUCKERS  81 

portion  of  the  cheeks  below;  pharyngeal  bones  weak,  the  teeth  small  and 
slender,  rapidly  diminishing  in  length  upward;  vertebrae  34;  ribs  13;  dorsal 
rays  11  or  12;  scales  large;  lateral  line  wanting  at  all  ages;  air-bladder  with 
two  chambers.  Fresh  waters  of  the  United  States;  one  species,  widely 
distributed. 


ERIMYZON  SUCETTA  OBLONGUS  (MITCHILL) 

CHUB-SUCKER;  SWEET  SUCKER. 
(MAP  xvi) 

Mitchill,  1815,  T.  Lit.  &  Phil.  Soc.  N.  Y.,  1  (Cyprinus  oblongus). 

G.,  VII,  21  (Moxostoma  oblongum);   J.  &  G.,  133;   M.  V.,  46;   J.  &  E.,  I,  186;   N.,  48 
(Erimyzon  oblongus);   J.,  64;    P.,  80;    F.  F.,  II,  7,  447;   L,.,  12. 

Body  oblong,  compressed,  the  depth  increasing  with  age;  predorsal 
region  often  more  or  less  elevated  and  profile  angled  at  nape  in  old  specimens; 
depth  3.1  to  3.9  in  length.  Size  small,  length  about  10  inches.  Coloration 
varying  considerably  with  age;  in  adults  a  nearly  uniform  brownish  olive, 
intermixed  with  pinkish  anteriorly,  and  everywhere  with  more  or  less  of  a 
coppery  luster;  paler  below;  fins  dusky,  ventrals  and  anal  most  so.  In  young 
specimens  the  sides  are  marked  by  four  distinct  bands  of  color:  a  dark  band 
extending  from  occiput  backward  on  each  side  of  dorsal  fin  to  middle  of 
caudal  peduncle,  covering  4  upper  rows  of  scales;  below  this  a  band  of  light 
color,  extending  from  just  above  upper  corner  of  gill-cleft  to  upper  part  of 
base  of  caudal;  next,  and  most  prominent,  a  narrow  band  of  purplish  black, 
extending  from  center  of  base  of  caudal  forward  along  sides  and  through  eye 
to  end  of  snout;  and  beneath  this  dark  lateral  band  the  sides  pale  to  the 
whitish  or  silvery  belly.  Adults  are  found  which  retain  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent  the  markings  of  the  young,  specimens  from  6  to  8  inches  in  length 
sometimes  showing  more  or  less  plainly  the  dark  lateral  stripe,  as  well  as 
the  apportionment  of  color  in  bands  above  and  below;  the  black  lateral 
band  may  break  up  into  indistinct  bars  with  age,  various  stages  between 
the  barred  condition  and  a  uniform  dusky  coloration  being  found.  Head 
short,  compressed,  considerably  tapered,  its  length  3.5  to  4.1,  width  5.1  to 
6.5,  depth  4.6  to  5.6  in  length  of  body:  interorbital  space  weakly  convex, 
2.2  to  2.6  in  head;  snout  (usually)  2.5  to  3.2  in  head;  mouth  subterminal, 
rather  small,  mandibles  more  or  less  obliquely  set,  tip  of  upper  lip  in  old 
specimens  sometimes  not  far  below  level  of  lower  rim  of  orbit;  lower  lip 
strongly  plicate,  its  halves  meeting  in  a  rather  acute  angle;  eye  large,  3.8  to 
5.8  in  head.  Dorsal  fin  a  little  higher  than  long,  its  developed  rays  9  to  12. 
Scales  large,  36  to  45  in  longitudinal  series,  transverse  rows  13  to  15;  scales 
more  or  less  crowded  anteriorly  and  somewhat  irregularly  arranged  on 
posterior  half  of  body;  lateral  line  as  a  rule  entirely  wanting  at  all  ages; 
specimens  occasionally  found  with  one  or  two  imperfectly  developed  pores. 

Head  of  spring  males  with  three  large  tubercles  on  each  side  of  snout, 
two  in  longitudinal  series  in  front  of  eye,  one  lower  down,  near  corner  of 
mouth. 


82  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

This  species,  with  its  two  varieties,  extends  throughout  the 
Great  Lake  region;  northeast  to  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Con- 
necticut rivers,  and  to  the  St.  Johns  River,  in  New  Brunswick; 
southeast  to  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  and  Florida;  southward 
to  the  Gulf,  southwest  to  the  Rio  Grande,  and  northward  to  the 
Dakotas.  The  northern  representatives  of  the  species  belong 
to  the  variety  oblongus  and  the  southern  to  sucetta. 

In  this  state  it  is  widely  distributed  in  large  and  small 
streams,  and  in  the  small  lakes  of  McHenry  county,  in  north- 
eastern Illinois;  but  it  is  much  the  most  abundant  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  state  in  the  drainage  of  the  Wabash  and  the  Ohio 
rivers,  and  in  the  headwaters  of  the  Sangamon  and  of  the 
Kaskaskia  adjacent  to  these.  A  line  drawn  through  the  middle 
of  the  state  from  north  to  south  but  swerving  slightly  to  the 
west  below  central  Illinois,  has  101  of  our  localities  for  this 
species  to  the  east  of  it  and  but  8  to  the  west.  It  is  essentially 
a  creek  species,  occurring  proportionally  five  times  as  frequently 
in  our  collections  from  creeks  as  from  rivers,  large  or  small, 
and  eight  times  as  frequently  as  from  lakes  and  ponds. 

The  chub-sucker  is  a  bottom  feeder,  and  has  the  habit  of  sup- 
porting itself  on  the  bottom,  like  the  darter,  by  means  of  its 
paired  fins.  In  ordinary  seasons  it  spawns  in  central  Illinois  in 
April  and  May.  Ripe  males  were  taken  at  Havana  April  10, 
1899,  and  females  with  ripe  ovaries  from  March  20  to  April  15. 
This  fish  bites  readily  at  a  small  hook,  but  its  flesh  is  bony  and 
without  flavor,  and  owing  to  its  small  size  the  species  has  no 
commercial  value. 


GENUS  MINYTREMA  JOEDAX 

SPOTTED    SUCKERS 

Body  elongate,  compressed;  mouth  inferior;  upper  lip  freely  protractile; 
lower  lip  plicate,  forming  an  angle  posteriorly;  posterior  fontanelle  large; 
supraorbital  bone  present;  suborbital  bones  well  developed;  pharyngeal 
bones  as  in  Erimyzon,  but  the  teeth  somewhat  coarser;  vertebrae  39;  thoracic 
ribs  17;  dorsal  rays  about  12;  scales  rather  large,  nearly  equal  all  over  the 
body;  lateral  line  interrupted  in  adults,  more  or  less  imperfect  in  half-grown 
specimens  and  entirely  obsolete  in  the  young;  air-bladder  with  two  chambers. 
Fresh  waters  of  the  United  States;  one  species  known. 


MINYTr.EMA — SPOTTED   SUCKERS  83 

MINYTREMA  MELANOPS   (EAFINESQUE) 

SPOTTED  SUCKER;  STRIPED  SUCKER 
(MAP  XVII) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  57  (Catostomus). 

G.,  VII,  19  (Catostomus  fasciatus);   J.  &  G.,  136;   M.  V.,  47;   J.  &  E.,  I,  187;    N.,  48 
(Erimyzon);  J.,  64;  F.,  80;  F.  F.,  II.  7,  444;  L.,  12. 

Body  oblong,  little  compressed,  adults  becoming  deeper,  depth  3.9  to 
4.5  in  length.  Size  rather  large,  reaching  a  length  of  18  inches.  Head 
olivaceous  above,  lighter  olive  to  silvery  on  cheeks  and  opercles,  with  some 
coppery;  sides  coppery  above,  greenish  gray  to  silvery  below;  each  scale 
along  sides  with  a  quadrate  spot  of  very  dark  greenish  at  base,  the  spots 
forming  rows  lengthwise  of  body;  belly  greenish  to  silvery,  with  suggestions 
of  coppery  luster;  fins  scarcely  dusky,  the  membranes  light  greenish.  Head 
3.9  to  4.6  in  length  of  body,  its  width  5.9  to  6.8,  depth  5.3  to  6,  rather  flattened 
above  but  not  depressed;  snout  2.3  to  2.7  in  head,  bluntly  pointed;  upper 
lip  with  faint  plica?,  lower  evidently  plicate,  its  halves  meeting  at  a  rather 
sharp  angle;  interorbital  space  2.2  to  2.5  in  head;  eye  small,  4.4  to  6.9  in 
head,  placed  high,  about  midway  of  length  of  head.  Dorsal  rays  11  to  12, 
not  including  rudiments,  the  fin  higher  than  long,  its  position  about  midway, 
usually  a  very  little  forward.  Scales  large,  6  or  7,  42-46,  5  to  7,  regularly 
imbricated,  not  crowded  forward;  lateral  line  incomplete  in  adults,  in  young 
specimens  imperfect  or  wanting. 

Head  of  old  males  covered  with  small  tubercles  in  spring. 

This  species  is  found  in  the  Great  Lake  region,  the  upper 
Mississippi  Valley  as  far  north  as  the  Yellowstone,  southward 
and  southwestward  to  the  Gulf  and  to  Texas,  and  on  the 
Atlantic  slope  from  New  Jersey  to  North  Carolina.  In  Illinois 
it  has  been  taken  in  all  our  stream  systems,  including  the  Lake 
Michigan  drainage,  but  most  abundantly  in  the  Wabash  and 
the  Kaskaskia  basins.  In  proportion  to  the  number  of  collec- 
tions made,  it  has  been  found  in  central  Illinois  twice  as 
frequently  as  in  northern,  and  in  southern  Illinois  twice  as  fre- 
quently as  in  central.  It  is  mainly  a  species  of  creeks  and  the 
smaller  rivers — twice  as  abundant  in  the  former  as  in  the  latter 
—and  is  comparatively  rare  in  lakes  and  ponds.  It  grows  to  a 
length  of  18  inches,  but  is  not  abundant  enough  in  Illinois  to 
have  any  noticeable  value.  From  the  little  that  is  known  of  its 
food  we  may  surmise  that  it  lives  largely  on  mollusks  and 
insect  larvae. 


84:  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

GENUS  CATOSTOMUS  LE  SUEUR 

FINE-SCALED    SUCKERS 

Head  more  or  less  elongate;  mouth  inferior,  the  upper  lip  thick,  pro- 
tractile, papillose;  lower  lip  greatly  developed,  incised  behind  so  as  to  form 
two  lobes;  posterior  fontafrelle  large;  supraorbital  bone  wanting,  as  in  Erimy- 
zon  and  Moxostoma;  suborbital  bones  narrow;  pharyngeal  teeth  shortish; 
vertebra?  (commersonii)  44;  ribs  17;  dorsal  rays  9  to  14;  scales  usually  small, 
50  to  115  in  the  lateral  series;  lateral  line  well  developed;  air-bladder  with 
two  chambers.  Species  numerous;  fresh  waters  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  east  and  west  of  the  Rockies;  one  species  (C.  rostratus  Tilesius) 
found  in  Siberia;  two  species  found  in  Illinois.  Breeding  males  of  most 
species  with  a  rosy  lateral  band,  with  median  fins  higher  than  in  female, 
and  with  anal  swollen  and  tuberculate. 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  CATOSTOMUS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Head  transversely  convex  above,  the  orbital  rim  not  elevated;   scales  in  lateral 

line  60  or  more,  crowded  and  smaller  anteriorly. 

b.  Scales  in  lateral  line  95-115 catostomus. 

bb.     Scales  in   lateral   line   68-80 commersonii. 

aa.     Head  broad,  depressed,  transversely  concave  between  the  orbits;   scales  nearly 

equal  all  over  the  body,  not  crowded  anteriorly,  48  to  55  in  the  lateral  line 
nigricans. 

CATOSTOMUS  CATOSTOMUS   (FORSTER) 

LONG-NOSED    SUCKER;    NORTHERN    SUCKER;    RED    SUCKER 
Forster,  1773,  Phil.  Trans.,  155   (Cyprinus). 

Body  elongate,  subterete,  the  depth  4^C  to  4%  in  length.  Head  quite 
long  and  slender,  4^  to  4%  in  length,  depressed  and  flattened  above,  broad 
at  base,  but  tapering  into  a  long  snout,  which  considerably  overhangs  the  large 
mouth.  Lips  thick,  coarsely  tuberculate,  the  upper  lip  narrow,  with  2  or  3, 
rarely  4,  rows  of  tubercles;  lower  lip  deeply  incised,  the  lobes  shorter  than 
in  C.  griseus,  and  the  mouth  narrower.  Lower  jawr  with  a  short  cartilagi- 
nous sheath.  Eye  rather  small,  behind  the  middle  of  the  head.  Scales  very 
small,  much  crowded  forward,  95  to  114  in  the  lateral  line,  and  about  29 
(26  to  31)  in  a  cross-row  from  dorsal  to  ventrals.  Dorsal  rays  10  to  11. 
Males  in  spring  with  the  head  and  anal  fin  profusely  tuberculate,  the  tubercles 
on  the  head  small;  the  sides  at  that  season  with  a  broad  rosy  band.  Size 
large.  Length  2^£  feet.  Great  Lakes,  upper  Missouri  river,  upper  Colum- 
bia, and  northwestward  to  Alaska:  very  abundant  northward,  but  not  coming 
south  of  lat.  40°. — JORDAN  and  EVERMANN  (Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  47, 
I.,  p.  176). 

Found  in  lower  Lake  Michigan  at  Miller,  Indiana,   and 
doubtless  occurring  in  the  lake  within  the  limits  of  Illinois. 


CATOSTOMUS — FINE-SCALED     SUCKERS  85 

CATOSTOMUS  COMMERSONII   (LACEPEDE) 
COMMON  SUCKER;  FINE-SCALED  SUCKER 

(MAP  XVIII) 

LacSp&de,  1803,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  V.  502  (Cyprinus). 

G.,  VII,  15  (teres);   J.  &  G.,  129;   M.  V.,  46   (teres);   J.  &  E.,  I,  178;   N.,  48   (teres) ; 
J.,  64;  F.,  81  (teres);  F.  F.,  II.  7,  444  (teres);  L.,  12. 

Body  elongate,  subterete,  rather  heavy  forward,  depth  4.3  to  5.3  in 
length,  usually  4.5  to  5.  Length  18  inches.  Color  olivaceous  on  back  and 
sides,  with  more  or  less  golden  luster;  belly  whitish;  vertical  fins  with  some 
dusky  on  rays,  membranes  paler,  those  of  ventrals  and  pectorals  orange, 
becoming  deeper  in  spring  males,  which  also  have  a  faint  rosy  lateral  band. 
Young  brownish  with  blackish  blotches  and  mottlings  which  are  more  or 
less  confluent,  sometimes  forming  an  indistinct  lateral  band.  Head  rather 
stout,  subconical,  flattish  above,  its  length  4  to  4.8,  width  5.5  to  7,  depth 
5.5  to  6.6  in  body;  interorbital  space  nearly  flat,  2.1  to  2.6  in  head;  snout 
blunt,  decurved,  squarish  at  tip;  mouth  inferior,  rather  large,  the  lips  strongly 
papillose,  the  upper  rather  thick,  with  3  or  4  rows  of  papillae;  eye  moderate, 
4.5  to  6.2  in  head,  more  than  5  in  adults.  Dorsal  fin  with  11  to  13,  usually 
12,  rays,  its  height  scarcely,  if  at  all,  exceeding  the  length  of  the  fin's  base. 
Scales  10-11, 63-80, 9-11,  crowded  anteriorly  and  below;  lateral  line  complete 
in  adults,  pores  wanting  on  some  scales  in  young. 

The  fin-scaled  sucker  occurs  in  streams  and  ponds  from  the 
Great  Lakes  to  New  Brunswick  and  Labrador,  in  the  Hudson 
River,  on  the  Atlantic  slope  from  New  Jersey  to  South  Carolina, 
and  northward  to  Great  Bear  Lake  and  Hudson's  Bay.  It  is 
abundant  throughout  the  central  part  of  the  eastern  United 
States  from  Massachusetts  to  Kansas,  and  is  common  in  the 
northern  third  of  Illinois,  especially  in  the  smaller  rivers  and 
larger  creeks.  It  occurs  but  rarely  in  the  Illinois  River  as  far 
south  as  Peoria,  and  has  not  been  taken  by  us  south  of  Alton 
except  in  the  streams  of  extreme  southern  Illinois  below  the 
Illinoisan  glaciation.  It  is  with  us  essentially  a  species  of  creeks 
and  small  rivers,  nearly  four  times  as  common,  according  to  our 
data,  in  the  former  as  in  the  latter.  It  has  been  taken  but  four 
times  in  our  293  collections  from  rivers  of  the  larger  size,  and  but 
twice  from  591  collections  made  from  lakes,  ponds,  and  sloughs. 
It  is  common,  however,  in  Lake  Michigan.  Our  collection  data 
show  that  it  is  much  more  likely  to  be  abundant  on  bottoms  with 
more  or  less  rock  and  sand  than  on  a  completely  muddy  bottom, 
and  that  it  has  also  a  decided  preference  for  clear,  swift  waters. 
The  species  reaches  a  length  of  22  inches  and  a  weight  of  5  Ib. 

The  food  of  this  sucker  has  not  been  carefully  studied,  but 
the  strong,  thick  pharyngeal  jaws,  nearly  twice  as  wide  as  high, 


86  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

and  the  relatively  small  number  of  pharyngeal  teeth,  the  lower 
of  which  are  very  much  thickened,  with  expanded  crowns,  con- 
stitute a  crushing  and  grinding  apparatus  which  strongly  suggests 
a  prevailing  molluscan  diet.  The  gill-rakers  are  less  effective 
than  those  of  the  red-horse,  indicating  a  smaller  ratio  of  crus- 
tacean food. 

The  species  spawns  in  April  or  May,  preferring  for  the  pur- 
pose riffles  or  swift-flowing  water  to  quiet  pools. 

Though  bony,  these  fishes  have  a  sweet,  firm,  and  flaky 
flesh,  and  furnish  a  food  of  considerable  importance  in  many 
parts  of  the  country.  They  are  frequently  salted  for  winter 
use,  and  are  sometimes  sold  in  our  local  markets  under  the  name 
of  "family  whitefish."  They  are  taken  with  seines,  traps,  and 
gill-nets,  bite  readily  at  the  hook  baited  with  worms  or  bits  of 
crawfish,  and  are  sometimes  caught  by  boys  in  spring  with 
snares  fastened  to  poles. 

CATOSTOMUS  NIGRICANS  LE  SUEUB 
HOGSUCKER;  HOGMOLLY;  STONE-ROLLER 

(MAP  XIX) 

Le  Sueur,  1817,  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  102. 

G.(  VII,  17;   J.  &  G.,  130;   M.  V.,  46;   J.  &  E.,  I,  181;   N.,  48   (Hypentelium) ;    J..   64; 
F.f  81;  F.  F.,  II.  7,  445  (Hypentelium);  L.,  12. 

Body  moderately  elongate,  subcylindrical,  heavy  forward,  much  tapered 
posteriorly,  depth  4.6  to  5.1  in  length.  Size  rather  large,  reaching  a  length 
of  2  feet.  Color  olivaceous,  with  brassy  luster  on  sides;  belly  satin}'  white; 
back  and  sides  in  younger  specimens  with  4  rather  broad  and  distinct 
oblique  bars  of  dark  color,  one  half  way  between  occiput  and  dorsal,  one 
just  behind  fin,  and  one  half  way  between  back  of  dorsal  and  base  of  caudal, 
these  bars  becoming  faint  or  obsolete  in  adults;  lower  fins  reddish,  with  some 
dusky  shading,  appearing  as  faint  mottlings  on  pectorals  and  ventrals. 
Head  very  large,  the  frontal  region  broad  and  foreshortened,  length  of  head 
3.6  to  4.5,  width  4.7  to  5.8,  depth  5.9  to  6.6  in  body;  interorbital  space  trans- 
versely concave,  1.9  to  2.5  in  head;  snout  long  and  strongly  decurved,  1.8 
to  2.2  in  head;  mouth  wholly  inferior,  the  lips  very  thick  and  strongly 
papillose,  the  upper  almost  as  thick  as  the  lower,  with  8  to  10  series  of  papilla?; 
lower  lip  less  incised  behind  than  in  Catostomus  proper;  eye  moderate,  4.8 
to  6  in  head,  over  5  in  adults.  Dorsal  fin  with  10  or  11  rays,  rather  low,  the 
longest  ray  scarcely  equaling  the  length  of  the  base  of  the  fin;  pectorals 
very  long,  reaching  %  to  %  of  distance  to  ventrals.  Scales  rather  large, 
7,  46-51, 6,  somewhat  smaller  on  breast  and  belly,  but  not  crowded  forward 
on  sides  or  in  predorsal  region;  lateral  line  complete,  almost  straight. 

This  peculiar  sucker  is  distributed  throughout  the  Great 
Lake  region  and  along  the  Atlantic  slope  as  far  as  the  Carolinas, 


CATOSTOMUS — FINE-SCALED     SUCKERS  87 

westward  to  Minnesota  and  Kansas,  north  to  the  Lake  of  the 
Woods,  and  south  to  Arkansas.  It  is  especially  abundant  in 
swift  and  rapid  streams,  and  is  rarely  found  in  muddy  water. 
Its  avoidance  of  muddy  situations  is  illustrated  especially  by  its 
distribution  in  Illinois,  not  a  single  collection  of  this  species 
having  been  made  by  us  from  the  persistently  turbid  water  of 
the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation.  It  is  rare  in  the  southern  third 
of  the  state,  and  was  taken  by  us  but  once  from  any  locality 
of  extreme  southern  Illinois.  It  has  occurred  in  our  collections 
most  abundantly  in  the  headwaters  and  smaller  tributaries  of 
the  Illinois,  the  Kaskaskia,  the  Embarras,  and  the  Big  Ver- 
milion, in  the  northern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  state. 

The  most  striking  peculiarities  of  this  fish  are  related  to  its 
haunts  and  feeding  habits.  The  large  bony  head  and  the  un- 
usually developed  pectoral  fins,  together  with  the  full  lips  and 
the  papillose  mouth,  are  all  related  to  the  fact  that  it  seeks  its 
food  in  the  more  rapid  parts  of  streams,  pushing  about  the  stones 
upon  the  bottoms  and  sucking  up  the  ooze  and  slime  thus  ex- 
posed, together  with  the  insect  larvae  upon  which  it  mainly 
depends  for  food.  The  slender  body,  the  large  pectoral  fins, 
and  the  comparatively  high  coloration  of  this  species  give  it 
the  aspect  of  a  darter  among  the  suckers,  and  its  active  habit 
and  the  peculiar  character  of  its  food  resources  is  another  point 
of  affinity  with  that  interesting  group.  It  has  also,  like  the 
darters,  the  habit  of  resting  quietly  on  the  bottom,  supported 
by  its  paired  fins,  where  its  coarsely  mottled  colors  serve  well 
to  conceal  it  among  the  surrounding  stones. 

Proportionately  to  the  number  of  collections  made  by  us, 
this  species  was  about  three  times  as  abundant  in  central  Illinois 
as  in  southern,  and  three  and  a  half  times  so  in  northern  Illinois 
as  in  central.  It  was  much  commonest  in  the  smaller  rivers  and 
about  half  as  abundant  in  creeks,  although  not  wholly  wanting 
in  either  the  larger  rivers  or  in  the  glaciated  lakes  of  northeastern 
Illinois.  It  was  not  taken  by  us  at  all  off  really  muddy  bottoms. 

Widely  different  as  are  the  food  and  feeding  habits  of  this 
species  and  those  of  the  common  sucker,  its  nearest  ally  in  our 
waters,  their  alimentary  structures  are  not  remarkably  unlike. 
The  pharyngeals  of  the  present  species  are  somewhat  lighter,  the 
pharyngeal  teeth  more  slender  and  more  prominently  hooked, 
and  the  gill-rakers  somewhat  stouter,  thus  affording  a  better 
apparatus  for  the  retention  of  the  relatively  large  insect  larvae 
upon  which  this  species  chiefly  feeds.  It  is,  in  short,  a  molluscan 


88  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

feeder  which  has  become  especially  adapted  to  the  search  for 
insect  larvae  occurring  in  rapid  water  under  stones.  It  feeds,  so 
far  as  our  observations  go,  almost  wholly  upon  aquatic  larvae, 
mainly  those  of  day-flies,  more  than  half  of  the  food  of  the  speci- 
mens examined  consisting  of  a  single  form  (Coenis)  abundant 
under  stones. 

A  few  aquatic  larvae  of  a  gnat  (Chironomus) ,  and  some 
other  insect  remains,  with  an  insignificant  ratio  of  small  bivalve 
mollusks,  were  the  other  elements  of  its  food. 

It  ascends  the  swifter  brooks  in  spring,  no  doubt  for  spawn- 
ing, although  its  habits  of  reproduction  are  not  known.  It  is 
sometimes  used  for  food,  but  has  virtually  no  economic  value. 

GENUS  MOXOSTOMA  EAFINESQUE 

RED-HORSE 

Body  more  or  less  elongate,  usually  more  or  less  compressed;  mouth 
inferior;  lips  with  transverse  plicae,  the  folds  rarely  so  broken  up  as  to  form 
papillae;  posterior  fontanelle  always  well  open;  supraorbital  bone  wanting; 
suborbitals  very  narrow;  pharyngeal  bones  weak,  the  teeth  rather  coarser 
than  in  Erimyzon  and  Catostomus;  vertebrae  (aureolum,  breviceps)  39  to  41; 
ribs  15  to  17;  dorsal  rays  11  to  17,  usually  about  13;  scales  large,  usually 
about  44  in  the  median  lateral  series;  lateral  line  well  developed;  air-bladder 
with  3  chambers.  Males  in  spring  with  lower  fins  reddened  (whence  the 
common  name),  and  with  anal  rays  swollen  and  tuber culate. 

United  States,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  species 
numerous;  3  species  found  in  Illinois. 

The  gill-rakers  of  the  red-horse  are  largely  modified  into 
transverse  leaf -like  plates  with  notched  edges  projecting  in 
triangular  outline  only  a  little  beyond  the  margin  of  the  thick, 
strong  arch.  Those  of  the  anterior  gill  are  more  elongate,  but 
stout  and  triangular,  and  about  three  fourths  as  long  as  the 
gill-filaments,  the  whole  branchial  apparatus  being  thus  coarse 
and  strong,  better  adapted  to  hold  hard  and  somewhat  bulky 
objects  than  to  strain  from  the  water  small  and  delicate  ones. 
The  pharyngeal  jaws  are  moderately  heavy,  with  strong  teeth, 
and  the  intestine  is  small  and  about  one  and  a  fourth  times  the 
length  of  the  head  and  body.  Quite  in  correspondence  with 
these  features  of  the  feeding  apparatus,  the  main  food  of  the 
red-horse  consists  of  water-snails  of  various  species,  and  small 
bivalve  mollusks  belonging  to  the  genus  Sphcerium.  About  a 
third  of  the  food  of  specimens  examined  by  us  consisted  of  insects, 
practically  all  aquatic  larvae.  The  vegetable  matter  present  in 


MOXOSTOMA — RED-HORSE  89 

the  food  of  specimens  taken  from  the  Illinois  River  at  Peoria 
was  mainly  distillery  slops  entering  the  streams  from  the  adja- 
cent distilleries.  The  latter  element  was  insignificant,  however, 
in  total  amount,  insects  and  mollusks  making  fully  95  per  cent, 
of  the  stomach  contents  studied,  mollusks  being  nearly  twice 
as  abundant  as  insects.  In  consequence  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  food  is  collected  from  the  bottom,  considerable  quantities 
of  mud  are,  of  course,  swallowed  with  it. 

These  fishes  are  caught  mainly  with  seines  and  pound-nets, 
but  they  also  bite  readily  at  the  hook. 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  MOXOSTOMA  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Folds  of  lower  lip  more  or  less  broken  up  into  papillae. 

b.  Head  short,  4%   to  5%   in  body;    lower  lip  truncate  behind,  mouth  small;    de- 

veloped dorsal  rays  12  or  13 <v breviceps. 

bb.  Head  longer,  3%  to  4%  in  body;  halves  of  lower  lip  meeting  in  a  sharp  angle, 

mouth  large;  developed  dorsal  rays  14  to  16 anisurum. 

aa.  Lips  strongly  plicate. 

c.  Head  4  to  4%   in  body;   halves  of  lower  lip  meeting  in  a  rather  wide  angle, 

mouth  large;   developed  dorsal  rays  12  to  14 aureolum. 

MOXOSTOMA  ANISURUM   (EAFINESQUE) 

WHITE-NOSED    SUCKER 

(MAP  XX) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  54  (Catostomus). 

G.,  VII,  20   (Catostomus  carpio);   J.  &  G.,  139   (carpio);   M.  V.,  47;   J.  &  E.,  I,  190; 
N.,  49  (Teretulus  carpio);  J.,  63  (Myxostoma  carpio);   F.,  80  (carpio). 

Body  stout,  heavy  forward,  deep  and  compressed,  the  back  elevated, 
rather  humped  in  front  of  dorsal  in  old  specimens;  depth  3.3  to  4.1  in  length. 
Size  large,  reaching  a  weight  of  5  to  10  Ib.  Color  pale,  silvery,  darker  above, 
nose  and  chin  whitish;  dorsal  and  caudal  with  some  dusky,  lower  fins  white 
or  light  reddish.  Head  broad  and  short,  squarish 
in  cross-section  in  region  of  orbit,  its  length  3.5  to 
4.3,  width  5.2  to  6.5,  depth  4.6  to  5.5  in  head;  inter- 
orbital  space  flat,  2.2  to  2.6  in  head;  snout  rather 
long,  2.1  to  2.6  in  head;  its  tip  squarish,  little  de- 
curved,  the  profile  nearly  straight  to  its  tip  when 
the  mouth  is  closed;  mouth  rather  large,  the  upper 
lip  thin,  plicate-papillose,  the  lower  thicker,  its  folds 
broken  into  evident  papillae,  the  halves  meeting  at  a 
sharp  angle;  eye  rather  large,  slightly  back  of  middle 
of  head,  4  to  6.4  in  its  length.  Dorsal  fin  long,  its 
rays  about  15  (14  to  17),  the  longest  about  % 
length  of  base  of  fin,  the  free  margin  straight;  lower  fins  long,  pectorals  reach- 
ing %  of  distance  from  pectoral  to  ventral  basis;  upper  lobe  of  caudal  a  little 
longer  than  lower.  Scales  6,  42-45,  6;  lateral  line  complete,  somewhat 
flexuose,  but  nearly  straight. 

i— 15  F 


90  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Found  in  the  Great  Lake  region  and  the  Ohio  Valley,  in- 
cluding Pennsylvania  and  New  York;  also  ranging  down  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  into  the  streams  of  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far 
south  as  North  Carolina.  Northward  its  range  extends  to 
Lake  Winnipeg  and  the  Assiniboin  River. 

This  is  the  so-called  white-nosed  sucker  of  the  Great  Lakes. 
It  is  distributed  throughout  Illinois,  but  in  rather  moderate 
numbers,  and  mainly  in  the  larger  streams — the  Illinois,  the 
Rock,  the  Mississippi,  the  Ohio,  and  the  Wabash.  The  species 
reaches  a  large  size,  varying  in  length  from  one  to  two  feet,  and 
it  is  a  somewhat  acceptable,  though  not  abundant,  food  fish. 
At  some  points  on  Lake  Michigan  it  contributes  a  considerable 
percentage  to  the  catch  of  suckers,  although  the  fine-scaled 
sucker  and  the  short-nosed  red-horse  commonly  outnumber  it. 

MOXOSTOMA  AUREOLUM   (LE  SUEUR) 

COMMON   RED-HORSE 

(MAP  XXI) 

Le  Sueur,  1817,  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  99  (Catostomus). 

Q.,  VII,  18  (Catostomus  duquesni);  J.  &  G.,  140  (macrolepidotum,  part);  M.  V.,  47 
(macrolepidotum  duquesnei  and  (?)  aureolum);  J.  &  E.,  I,  192;  N.,  49  (Teret- 
ulus  duquesnii  and  macrolepidotum);  J.,  63  (Myxostoma  macrolepidotum  var. 
duquesnii);  F.,  80  (macrolepidotum);  F.  F.,  II.  7,  442  (macrolepidotum). 

Body  elongate,  heavier  forward,  considerably  compressed,  the  back 
little  elevated;  depth  4  to  4.4  in  length.  Size  rather  large,  attaining  a 
weight  of  5  or  6  ft.  Color  of  back  and  sides  an  almost  uniform  olivaceous, 
very  little  darker  above,  taking  on  a  faint  silvery  tinge  lower  down;  faint 
tints  of  salmon  or  yellowish  along  sides  in  front 
of  dorsal;  belly  smoky  white;  dorsal  quite  dusky, 
without  pale  edge;  caudal  grayish  olive;  lower  fins 
with  some  orange  near  base,  the  broad  outer 
margins  faintly  dusky.  Head  moderate,  3.9  to 
4.5  in  length,  its  width  5.7  to  6.8,  depth  5.2  to 
5.9,  not  strongly  tapered,  rather  flattened  above, 
the  cheeks  nearly  vertical;  interorbital  space  nearly 
flat,  2.2  to  2.6  in  head;  snout  2.3  to  2.8  in  head, 
its  tip  squarish,  little  decurved;  mouth  large,  both 
FlG  22  upper  and  lower  lips  thick,  strongly  and  coarsely 

Lips  of  Moxostoma  P^ate>    halveS   ?f  lo™  U?  ******   **   a   ^iheT 

aureolum  wide  angle;  eye  large,  4  to  5  in  head.     Dorsal  rays 

12-14,  the  fin  a  little  higher  than  long,  last  ray 

more  than  half  the  length  of  longest  anterior  ray;  free  margin  of  dorsal 
straight;  lower  fins  rather  longer  than  in  the  next  species,  longest  in  the 
males,  pectorals  reaching  %  to  %  of  distance  from  pectoral  to  ventral  bsisis; 
upper  lobe  of  caudal  a  little  longer  than  lower.  Scales  6,41-48,5-7;  lateral 
line  complete,  faintly  flexuose. 


MOXOSTOMA RED-HORSE  91 

This  species,  much  the  most  abundant  of  the  Illinois  red- 
horse,  occurs  outside  our  limits  from  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the 
Hudson  rivers  through  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Missouri  River, 
north  to  Winnipeg  and  the  Assiniboin,  and  southward  to 
Arkansas  and  Georgia.  In  this  state  it  is  much  the  commonest 
in  the  northern  and  eastern  two-thirds  of  our  area,  showing  a 
tendency,  like  the  preceding  species,  to  avoid  the  turbid  waters 
of  southern  Illinois,  although  present  in  the  clearer  waters 
south  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation.  It  occurs  in  148  of  our 
collections,  most  abundantly,  in  proportion  to  the  number 
made,  in  the  Rock  River  and  the  northwest  basins,  and  in  the 
Kaskaskia  and  Wabash  systems.  It  has  been  taken  by  us, 
however,  in  all  the  other  stream  systems  except  that  of  the  Big 
Muddy.  It  is  much  the  commonest  in  creeks  and  the  smaller 
rivers,  the  numbers  found  in  the  larger  rivers  being  only  half  the 
normal  ratio  for  the  species,  and  those  in  lakes  and  sloughs  a 
fourth  that  ratio.  Its  preference  for  swiftly  flowing  streams  and 
its  avoidance  of  a  mud  bottom  are  also  conspicuously  shown 
by  our  data  of  ecological  distribution. 

This  red-horse  is  not  tenacious  of  life,  but  dies  quickly  in 
the  aquarium  if  the  water  is  in  the  least  impure.  It  also  readily 
succumbs  to  impure  conditions  of  its  native  waters  such  as  are 
likely  to  occur  in  midsummer,  sometimes  perishing  in  vast  num- 
bers and  stranding  along  the  banks  when  violent  summer  rains, 
following  long  periods  of  drought,  overload  the  streams  with 
mud  and  decomposing  vegetation. 

It  spawns  in  April  and  May,  ascending  the  smaller  streams 
for  the  purpose.  Females  taken  from  the  Illinois  River  at 
Meredosia  May  5,  1899,  were  already  spent. 

MOXOSTOMA  BREVICEPS   (COPE) 

SHORT-HEADED   RED-HORSE 
(PL.,  P.  92;  MAP  XXII) 

Cope,   1870,  P.  Am.  Phil.   Soc.,  478    (Ptychostomus). 

J.  &  G.,  141   (anisurum  and  (?)   aureolum);    M.  V.,  48   (crassilabre) ;   J.  &  E.,  I,  196; 

N.,  49   (Teretulus  aureolum);   J.,  63   (Myxostoma  aureolum);   F.,  80   (aureolum); 

F.  F.,  II.  7,  444   (aureolum);   L.,  12  (macrolepidotum). 

Body  subfusiform,  moderately  compressed,  rather  deep  under  front  of 
dorsal,  in  form  much  like  a  Coregonus;  depth  3.8  to  4.4  in  length.  Size 
moderate,  our  largest  specimens  about  15  inches  in  length.  Color  pale 
yellowish  olive,  with  a  faint  coppery  tint  on  sides  in  predorsal  region;  rest  of 
sides  and  caudal  peduncle  very  light  pea-green,  grading  to  whitish  or  dull 
silvery  lower  down  and  on  belly;  dorsal  very  pale  olive,  scarcely  dusky; 


92  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

caudal  light  reddish  outward,  olive  near  base;  lower  fins  salmon  with  paler, 
greenish  margins.     Head  extremely  short,  subconical,  tapering  both  above 
and  below  to  the  tip  of  the  pointed  snout;  length  of  head  4.6  to  5.4  in  body, 
usually  more  than  5  in  adults,  width  6.6  to  7.6,  depth  5.7  to  6.7;  interorbital 
space  1.9  to  2.4  in  head,  noticeably  convex ;  chin  convex;  cheeks  shallow,  not 
vertically  continuous  to  a  flat  chin  as  in  aureolum 
and  anisurum,  a  cross-section  of  the  head  in  the 
orbital  region  not  being  squarish  as  in  those  species; 
snout  2.3  to  2.9  in  head,  not  at  all  decurved;  mouth 
small,   upper  lip  rather  coarsely  plicate,   the  folds 
shallow  and  not  continued  back  to  the  inside  of  the 
lip;  lower  lip  truncate  behind,  the  two  halves  scarcely 
separated  at  the  shallow  incision,   the  coarse  but 
shallow  plicae  evident  in  front,  but  breaking  up  into 
FlG  23  irregular  papilla  posteriorly;  eye  small  in  comparison 

r .  '  with  length  of  body,  but  contained  4  to  5  times  in 

PS  brev^ps  the  very  short  head.     Dorsal  rays  12  or  13,  the  fin 

notably  higher  in  front  than  behind,  the  last  ray 

being  less  than  half  the  length  of  the  longest  anterior  ray,  which  is  usually 
considerably  longer  than  the  base  of  the  fin;  free  margin  of  dorsal  concave; 
pectorals  longer  than  the  short  head,  but  relatively  shorter  than  in  the  two 
preceding  species,  scarcely  reaching  %  of  the  distance  from  pectoral  to  ventral 
basis;  upper  lobe  of  caudal  falcate,  usually,  though  not  always,  longer  than 
lower.  Scales  6,  43-45, 5  or  6;  lateral  line  complete,  nearly  straight. 

This  species  occurs  in  the  Ohio  Valley  and  the  Great  Lake 
region,  being  especially  abundant  in  Lake  Erie.  In  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  it  ranges  up  the  Missouri  to  Cheyenne  Falls. 
It  is  especially  a  northern  Illinois  fish,  only  one  of  our  collec- 
tions made  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state  containing  it,  and 
this  falling  outside  the  area  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation. 
It  is  about  equally  common  in  central  and  northern  Illinois , 
and  has  been  more  uniformly  distributed,  according  to  our 
observations,  than  the  other  species  of  its  genus,  occurring  in 
about  equal  frequency,  relatively  to  the  number  of  collections 
made,  in  the  larger  rivers  and  in  creeks  and  lakes,  but  about 
twice  as  abundantly  in  the  smaller  rivers.  It  shows  also  con- 
siderably less  marked  preference  than  the  preceding  species  for 
clear  and  swiftly  flowing  waters. 

GENUS  PLACOPHARYNX  COPE 

PAVEMENT-TOOTHED    RED-HORSE 

Suckers  like  Moxostoma  in  all  respects,  except  that  the  pharyngeal 
bones  are  much  more  developed  and  the  teetb  reduced  in  number,  those  on 
the  lower  half  of  the  bone  very  large,  6  to  10  in  number,  nearly  cylindrical 
in  form,  but  little  compressed  and  with  a  broad  and  more  or  less  flattened 


PLACOPHARYNX — PAVEMENT-TOOTHED    RED-HORSE  93 

grinding  surface;  mouth  larger  and  more  oblique,  and  lips  thicker  than  in 
most  species  of  Moxostoma.  Fresh  waters  of  southeastern  United  States; 
one  species  known. 


PLACOPHARYNX  DUQUESNEI   (LE  SUEUR) 

Le  Sueur,  1817,  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  105  (Catostomus). 

J.  &  G.,  143  (carinatus);  M.  V.,  48  (carinatus);  J.  &  E.,  I,  198;  N.,  49  (carinatus); 
J.,  63  (carinatus);  F.,  80  (carinatus);  F.  F.,  II.  7,  441  (carinatus);  L...  13. 

Body  elongate,  heavier  forward,  the  form  much  as  in  Moxostoma  aureo- 
lum,  but  the  back  less  elevated  and  the  body  somewhat  less  compressed; 
depth  3.8  to  4.5  in  length.  Length  15  to  30  inches.  "Color  dark  olive- 
green,  the  sides  brassy,  not  silvery;  lower  fins  and  caudal  orange-red"  (Jordan 
&  Evermann) .  Head  broad,  flattish  above,  but  less  so  than  in  M .  aureolum, 
cheeks  vertical,  chin  flat;  length  of  head  4.2  to  4.5,  width  6.2  to  6.7,  depth 
5.3  to  6  in  body;  interorbital  space  slightly  convex,  2.1  to  2.3  in  head;  snout 
blunt,  squarish  at  tip,  scarcely  decurved,  2.3  to  2.4  in  head;  mouth  very  large, 
the  lower  jaw  oblique  when  the  mouth  is  closed;  lips  very  thick  and  coarsely 
plicate,  the  folds  broken  in  places  into  very  fine  papillae  in  old  specimens; 
lower  lip  very  large,  protruding  when  mouth  is  closed,  its  halves  meeting 
behind  in  an  almost  straight  line;  eye  large,  4.3  to  5  in  head.  Dorsal  fin 
with  12  or  13  rays,  higher  than  long,  its  free  margin  weakly  concave,  last 
ray  half  length  of  longest  anterior  ray;  pectorals  short,  reaching  but  about 
%  of  distance  from  pectoral  to  ventral  basis;  ventrals  short,  their  tips  5  or 
6  scales  from  vent.  Scales  6,  43-47,  6  or  7;  lateral  line  complete,  almost 
straight. 

This  fish  has  not  ordinarily  been  separated  readily  from 
specimens  of  Moxostoma  without  removal  and  examination  of 
the  characteristic  pharyngeal  bones,  but,  as  it  seems  to  us,  its 
very  large  mouth  and  subtruncate  lower  lip,  and  its  shorter 
lower  fins  should  enable  one  to  distinguish  it  with  ease  from  both 
Moxostoma  anisurum  and  M.  aureolum — the  only  species  found 
in  its  range,  so  far  as  is  known,  that  resemble  it  at  all  closely. 

Its  branchial  apparatus  is  not  notably  different  from  that  of 
Moxostoma,  the  gill-rakers  being  short  and  few,  and  effective 
only  on  the  upper  part  of  the  arch,  the  lower  arm  being,  like 
that  of  Moxostoma,  covered  by  a  rigid  pad.  The  species  is  very 
remarkably  distinguished,  however,  by  its  heavy  pharyngeal 
jaws  and  its  thick  and  strong  pharyngeal  teeth  with  conspicuous 
grinding  surface.  These  number  about  30  on  each  pharyngeal, 
the  upper  ones  minute  and  useless  rudiments,  and  the  lower  10 
very  large,  occupying  about  two  thirds  the  length  of  the  arch — 
the  lower  6,  in  fact,  about  half  of  it.  It  is  probable  that  this 
apparatus  is  related  to  a  preference  for  mollusks  as  food,  but 


94  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

the  number  of  specimens  available  for  our  examination  has  been 
too  small  to  test  this  supposition.  In  two  examples  taken  from 
the  Illinois  River  at  Havana  in  October,  the  food  was  about  a 
third  mollusks  and  two  thirds  insects,  the  latter  largely  Iarva3 
of  May-flies  and  of  large  water-beetles  (Hydrophillidce) . 

Michigan  to  Tennessee,  Georgia,  and  Arkansas;  especially 
abundant  in  the  Ozark  region  and  in  the  French  Broad  River 
basin.  Rare  in  Illinois;  one  specimen  from  the  Wabash;  two 
specimens  from  the  Illinois;  and  two  or  three  others  from 
localities  unknown. 


GENUS  LAGOCHILA  JORDAN  &  BEAYTON 

RABBIT-MOUTH   SUCKER 

Suckers  in  all  respects  like  Moxostoma  except  for  the  singular  structure 
of  the  mouth;  upper  lip  not  protractile,  greatly  prolonged  and  closely  plicate; 
lower  lip  much  reduced,  divided  into  two  distinct  lobes,  which  are  weakly 
papillose,  the  split  between  the  lobes  extending  backward  to  the  edge  of  the 
dentary  bones;  lower  lip  entirely  separated  from  upper  at  angles  by  a  deep 
fissure,  which  is  mostly  covered  by  the  skin  of  the  cheeks.  Ozark  region, 
Wabash,  Clinch,  Scioto,  Cumberland,  Chickamauga,  and  White  (Arkansas) 
rivers.  One  species  known,  L.  lacera  Jordan  &  Brayton,  not  at  present  known 
from  Illinois,  although  not  unlocked  for  in  collections  from  the  Wabash  basin. 
(For  description  see  Jordan  &  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  47, 
L,  p.  199.) 

FAMILY  CYPRINID^E 

THE   MINNOWS  AND   THE   CARP 

Form  varied,  elongate  and  subfusiform,  more  or  less  compressed,  or 
sometimes  thin  and  deep;  head  naked;  body  scaly,  except  in  a  few  forms 
not  occurring  in  the  United  States;  scales  cycloid;  skeleton  osseous;  anterior 
vertebrae  modified  and  provided  with  Weberian  apparatus;  fins  typically 
without  spines;  ventrals  abdominal;  no  adipose  fin;  a  mesocoracoid  arch 
present;  gill-membranes  broadly  joined  to  isthmus;  pseudobranchise  usually 
present;  branchiostegals  3;  margin  of  upper  jaw  formed  by  premaxillaries 
alone;  jaws  toothless;  lower  pharyngeal  bones  well  developed,  falciform,  and 
nearly  parallel  with  the  gill-arches,  each  armed  with  1  to  3  series  of  teeth, 
4  to  7  hi  the  main  row,  and  a  less  number  in  the  others,  if  more  rows  are 
present;  stomach  without  appendages,  being  a  simple  enlargement  of  the 
intestine;  intestinal  canal  short  or  long,  usually  less  than  twice  length  of 
body  in  species  partly  or  wholly  carnivorous  (see  key),  but  often  very  much 
longer  in  herbivorous  and  limophagous  forms;  air-bladder  typically  present 
and  with  open  duct,  commonly  divided  into  2  more  or  less  distinct  chambers 


CYPRINHLE — THE    MINNOWS    AND    THE    CARP  95 

The  minnow  family,  much  the  largest  and  most  complex  of 
the  fish  families  of  the  state,  has  become  variously  differentiated 
in  respect  to  habits,  ecological  relations,  and  some  of  its  more  im- 
portant structures,  in  a  way  to  adjust  the  group  with  consider- 
able exactness  to  the  various  features  of  its  environment.  In 
respect  to  territorial  distribution,  we  may  distinguish  among  the 
minnows  a  group  distributed  mainly  through  the  Mississippi 
drainage,  another  mainly  through  the  Ohio  drainage,  and  a  third 
which  is  generally  distributed  throughout  the  state.  We  may 
also  distinguish  a  group  of  species  which  does  not  enter  or  remain 
in  the  persistently  turbid  waters  of  the  southern  Illinois  region 
covered  by  the  fine-grained  drift  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glacia- 
tion;  another  group  which  is  common  in  the  lowland  lakes,  and 
a  much  larger  group  which  is  rarely  found  in  lakes  of  any  kind; 
a  group  of  minnows  which  prefer  large  rivers,  and  another  which 
is  most  abundant  in  the  smaller  streams;  one  more  than  nor- 
mally common  over  a  mud  bottom,  and  another  evidently 
most  at  home  over  a  bottom  of  rock  and  sand :  one  which  prefers 
a  swift  current,  and  another  which  seeks  quiet  waters. 

The  various  species  of  the  family  show  also  considerable 
differences  of  preference  in  respect  to  the  kinds  of  food  which 
they  choose  from  the  general  supply  offered  to  them.  They  are 
mainly  carnivorous,  on  the  whole,  in  this  country,  although  we 
have  found  fishes  and  mollusks  only  rarely  in  the  food  of  our 
native  species.  Insects  and  crustaceans,  including  Entomos- 
traca,  are  their  principal  dependence,  except  for  a  few  which 
eat  largely  of  vegetation  and  a  few  others  which  feed  almost 
wholly  on  the  highly  organic  mud  of  the  bottoms  of  our  ponds 
and  streams.  The  special  structures  of  alimentation  corre- 
spond in  their  variations,  in  the  several  divisions  of  the  family, 
to  these  differences  of  their  food. 

Fishes  so  small  as  most  of  our  minnows,  are,  as  a  rule,  in  no 
need  of  a  specially  developed  set  of  gill-rakers,  since  the  gill- 
arches  themselves  are  so  small  and  the  spaces  between  them  so 
narrow  that  any  object  large  enough  to  be  useful  for  food  is  little 
likely  to  be  carried  out  through  the  gills  with  the  respiratory 
current.  In  two  of  our  species,  however  (Abramis  crysoleucas 
and  Notropis  heterodori),  the  gill-rakers  are  considerably  de- 
veloped, and  in  these  species  Entomostraca  appear  more  largely 
in  the  food  than  in  any  other  minnows.  Even  Protozoa  and 
unicellular  algse  have  been  found  common  in  the  stomachs  of 
N.  heterodon. 


96  FISHES    OP   ILLINOIS 

The  intestine  varies  greatly  in  length,  being  longest  in  the 
mud-eating  minnows  and  shortest  in  those  dependent  wholly 
or  mainly  on  animal  food.  In  Campostoma,  a  typical  mud- 
eater,  it  is  five  to  nine  and  a  half  times  the  length  of  the  head 
and  body,  and  is  wound  spirally  about  the  air-bladder,  while  in 
the  more  strictly  insectivorous  genera  it  is  only  two  thirds  to 
five  sixths  as  long  as  the  head  and  body  taken  together.  The 
mud-eating  forms  also  differ  from  the  others  in  the  fact  that  the 
pharyngeal  teeth  have  a  large  grinding  surface  at  the  free  end, 
and  are  without  the  terminal  hook-like  processes  with  which 
those  species  are  provided  which  feed  mainly  on  insects. 

Although  the  cyprinoids  are  mostly  of  small  size,  the 
European  carp  and  a  few  native  species,  some  of  which  are  abun- 
dant on  the  Pacific  slope  in  America,  attain  a  considerable  weight. 

There  are  some  two  hundred  genera  in  the  world  and  about 
a  thousand  species.  In  Illinois  there  are  fourteen  genera  and 
thirty-six  species  known,  seventeen  of  the  latter  belonging  to 
the  single  genus  Notropis.  All  our  native  species  are  small  and 
commercially  insignificant  except  as  they  are  used  for  bait  and 
serve  as  a  valuable  food  resource  for  other  fishes.  The  top  of 
the  head  in  spring  males,  and  often  also  the  fins  and  sides — 
particularly  the  sides  of  the  caudal  peduncle — are  covered  with 
small  tubercles  called  pearl  organs,  and  the  fins  and  lower  parts 
of  the  body  are,  in  the  breeding  season,  often  highly  colored 
with  bright  pigments,  either  red,  satiny-white,  yellow  to  orange, 
or  black.  The  young  of  the  deeper-bodied  species  are  much 
more  slender  than  the  adults  and  have  much  larger  eyes.  They 
may  also  show  color  markings  not  found  in  adults  of  the  same 
species,  such  as  a  caudal  spot  or  a  black  lateral  stripe. 

Taken  as  a  group  the  minnows  are,  on  the  whole,  fishes 
especially  of  the  creeks  and  smaller  rivers,  and  they  show,  in 
these  situations,  a  decided  preference  for  a  more  or  less  rapid 
current  and  for  a  clean  bottom  rather  than  one  of  mud.  There 
are  notable  exceptions,  as  already  said,  but  the  general  fact  is 
well  shown  by  our  data  of  frequency  of  occurrence  in  the  various 
ecological  situations,  drawn  from  the  24  Illinois  species  of  which 
we  have  collections  numerous  enough  to  make  them  available 
for  this  study.  Of  these  24  species,  6  are  more  than  usually 
.abundant  in  the  larger  rivers,  20  are  extraordinarily  so  in  rivers 
of  the  second  class  and  19  in  creeks,  5  are  more  numerous  than 
the  average  in  lowland  lakes,  and  only  1  is  unusually  so  in 
upland  lakes  of  glacial  orgin. 


CYPRINID2E — THE    MINNOWS    AND    THE    CARP  97 

Only  two  of  these  24  species  were  most  abundant  in  the 
larger  rivers,  and  6  in  the  smaller  rivers.  Fourteen  species  were 
found  most  frequently  in  creeks,  1  was  most  abundant  in  lakes, 
another  in  the  bottom-lands,  and  another  in  clear  upland  lakes. 
If  we  may  take  our  miscellaneous  collections  to  have  been  fairly 
distributed  as  to  varieties  of  situation  and  to  proportionate 
extent  of  each  variety,  we  may  further  infer  from  our  data  that 
minnows  will  generally  be  found  over  a  relatively  hard  and  clean 
bottom  about  two  and  a  half  times  as  abundantly  as  over  a 
bottom  of  mud. 

In  the  general  scheme  of  aquatic  life,  the  native  members  of 
this  family,  taken  together  as  a  group,  play  a  multiple  role. 
They  operate,  to  some  extent,  as  a  check  on  the  increase  of  the 
aquatic  insects,  from  which  they  draw  a  large  part  of  their  food 
supply;  they  make  indirectly  available,  as  food  for  their 
own  most  destructive  enemies,  these  aquatic  insects,  many 
terrestrial  insects  also,  which  fall  into  the  water  and  are 
greedily  devoured  by  them,  and  the  mere  mud  and  slime  and 
confervoid  algae  gathered  up  from  the  bottom  of  the  waters  they 
inhabit;  and  they  rival  the  young  of  all  larger  fishes,  their  own 
worst  enemies  included,  by  living  continuously,  to  a  great 
degree,  on  the  Entomostraca  and  insect  life  which  these  fishes 
must  have,  at  one  period  of  their  lives,  in  order  to  get  their 
growth.  They  also  offer  a  considerable  means  of  subsistence  to 
certain  aquatic  birds,  such  as  kingfishers,  and  members  of  the 
heron  family;  and,  through  their  contributions  to  the  support 
of  the  best  food  fishes,  they  form  an  important  link  in  the  chain 
of  agencies  by  which  our  waters  are  made  productive  in  the 
interest  of  man. 

Among  the  enemies  of  Cyprinidce  disclosed  by  our  study  of 
1,221  Illinois  fishes,  already  referred  to,  are  practically  all 
our  most  predaceous  fishes,  including  the  dogfish,  both  our 
common  species  of  gar,  the  wall-eyed  pike,  both  our  species  of 
pickerel,  both  species  of  black  bass,  the  yellow  perch,  the  mud- 
cat,  the  bullheads,  the  crappies,  the  green  sunfish,  and,  finally, 
one  of  their  own  family,  the  horned  dace.  That  this  list  might 
be  considerably  enlarged  by  more  extensive  studies  of  the  food 
of  fishes  is  beyond  a  doubt,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  fish- 
eating  fish  would,  if  hungry  for  fish,  refuse  a  minnow  of  any  kind 
unless  it  seemed  too  small  to  be  worth  the  trouble  of  capturing. 

From  the  standpoint  of  the  predaceous  species,  minnows  are 
young  fishes  which  never  grow  up,  and  thus  keep  up  the  supply 


98  FISHES    OP   ILLINOIS 

of  edible  fishes  of  a  size  to  make  them  available  to  the  smaller 
carnivorous  kinds  when  the  young  of  the  larger  species  have 
grown  too  large  to  be  captured  or  eaten.  They  thus  not  only 
furnish  the  necessary  food  to  the  smaller  aquatic  Carnivora, 
but  they  ease  the  way  of  growth  to  the  largest  kinds,  all  of  which 
pass  through  a  period  when  they  need  fish  food,  but  are  not  yet 
large  enough  to  capture  the  prey  upon  which  they  chiefly  depend 
when  they  are  themselves  adult.  Moreover,  by  their  great 
numbers,  by  their  various  adaptations  and  correspondingly 
general  ecological  distribution,  and  by  their  permanently  small 
size,  the  minnows  must  distract  in  great  measure  the  attention 
of  carnivorous  fishes  from  the  young  of  the  larger  species,  upon 
which,  without  them,  the  adults  of  these  larger  species  would 
fall  with  the  full  force  of  their  voracious  appetites.  By  offering 
themselves,  no  doubt  as  unconscious,  but  sufficient  substitutes, 
they  thus  help  to  preserve — for  their  own  future  destruction, 
however,  be  it  noticed — the  young  of  many  species  which  would 
otherwise  be  forced  to  feed  on  each  other's  progeny.  It  is 
not  too  much  to  say,  consequently,  that  the  number  of  game 
fishes  which  any  waters  can  maintain  is  largely  conditioned 
upon  its  permanent  stock  of  minnows. 

Owing  to  their  abundance  in  all  situations,  the  number  and 
variety  of  their  species  and  genera,  and  the  ease  with  which  they 
may  be  collected  and  preserved,  minnows  are  an  admirable 
group  for  a  study  of  local  distribution  and  ecological  relation- 
ship, and  the  data  of  our  collections  applicable  to  such  a  study 
have  been  assembled,  for  convenient  inspection  and  comparison, 
in  the  following  tables  and  lists. 


CYPRINIDJK — THE   MINNOWS   AND   THE    CARP 


99 


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100 


FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 


TABLE  II 

MINNOWS  AND  THE  ENVIRONMENT 

RELATIONS  TO  CURRENT 
SPECIES  AND  FREQUENCY  COEFFICIENTS 


Swift-water  minnow 

8 

Still-water  minnows 

Species 

Coefficients 

Species 

Coefficients 

Cliola  vigilax  

2.46 

Abramis  crysoleucas  

2.79 

Campostoma  anomalum  
Hybopsis  kentuckiensis  —  .... 
Phenacobius  mirabilis  
Notropis  whipplii  
N.  atherinoides  .  .  . 

.70 
.38 
.32 
.30 
19 

Notropis  umbratilis  
Hybognathus  nuchalis  
Pimephales  promelas  
Notropis  cornutus  
Semotilus  atromaculatus 

1.76 
1.38 
1.37 
1.27 
1  20 

N.  blennilis  

.18 

Pimephales  notatus  

1.09 

TABLE  III 

RELATIONS  TO  BOTTOM 

SPECIES  AND  FREQUENCY  COEFFICIENTS 


Preferring  clean  bottom 


Preferring  mud  bottom 


Species 

Coefficients 

Species 

Coefficients 

Campostoma  anomalum  

3.26 

Abrami3  crysoleucas 

3.79 

Ericymba  buccata  

3.20 

Pimephales  promelas  

2.08 

Hybopsis  kentuckiensis  

2.24 

Notropis  lutrensis  

1.69 

Notropis  cornutus  
Cliola  vigilax  

2.20 
2.04 

Hybognathus  nuchalis  
Hybopsis  amblops  

1.68 
1.50 

Notropis  blennius  

2.00 

Pimephales  notatus  

1.09 

N.  whipplii  

1.60 

Phenacobius  mirabilis  

1.36 

Notropis  atherinoides  

1.22 

Semotilus  atromaculatus  

1.11 

Notropis  umbratilis  

1.01 

TABLE  IV 
PRINCIPAL  CYPRINID^E  OF  LARGE  RIVERS 


Species 

No.  of 
collections 

Frequency 
coefficients 

Cliola  vigilax  
Notropis  heterodon  
N.  hudsonius  
N.  lutrensis  
N.  jejunus  
N.  atherinoides  

194 
93 
147 
163 
51 
206 

1.04 
.98 
1.80 
1.43 
1.63 
1.21 

Hybopsis  store.ria.nus  

28 

1.28 

CYPRINIDJE — THE   MINNOWS   AND   THE    CARP 


101 


TABLE  V 
PRINCIPAL  CYPRINID^E  OF  INTERIOR  LAKES 


Species 

No.  of 
collections 

Frequency  coefficients 

Lowland 
lakes 

Upland 
lakes 

Opsopceodus  emilise  
Abramis  crysoleucas  
Notropis  cayuga  
N.  heterodon  
N.  hudsonius  

80 
303 
30 
93 
147 

1.97 
1.36 
3.29 
1.44 
1.76 

.59 
.17 
2.68 
.60 

TABLE  VI 
GEOGRAPHICAL  GROUPS,  ILLINOIS  MINNOWS 


PREFERRING    THE    OHIO 
DRAINAGE 

Notropis  illecebrosus 
Ericymba  buccata 
Hybopsis  amblops 


PREFERRING    THE    MISSISSIPPI 
DRAINAGE 

Chrosomus  erythrogaster 
Hybognathus  nubila 
Pimephales  promelas 
Notropis  gilberti 
N.  hudsonius 
N.  lutrensis 


EVIDENTLY   AVOIDING   LOWER  ILLINOISAN  FREELY    ENTERING   LOWER   ILLINOISAN 

GLACIATION  GLACIATION 

Campostoma  anomalum  Hybognathus  nuchalis 

Notropis  blennius  Pimephales  notatus 

N.  cornutus  Abramis  crysoleucas 

Ericymba  buccata  Cliola  vigilax 

Hybopsis  kentuckiensis  Notropis  whipplii 

N.  atherinoides 
N.  rubrifrons 
Hybopsis  amblops 

The  first  table,  relating  to  the  twenty-four  most  abundant 
species,  shows  the  relative  frequencies  of  occurrence  of  each 
species  in  our  collections  from  each  class  of  situations  indicated 
by  the  headings  of  the  columns.  The  figures  of  these  columns, 
called  coefficients  of  frequency,  when  larger  than  1  indicate  a 
greater  than  average  frequency  in  the  situation  named,  and, 
when  smaller  than  1,  a  lesser  frequency.  That  is  to  say,  if  all 
the  species  of  minnows  had  been  equally  and  uniformly  dis- 
tributed through  all  classes  of  situations,  the  coefficients  of  this 
table  would  all  have  been  1.  Referring,  for  example,  to  Cam- 
postoma anomalum,  in  the  first  line  of  the  table,  it  will  be  seen 
that  195  of  our  collections  contained  this  species.  The  number 
of  collections  from  larger  rivers  containing  this  minnow,  as 
shown  by  the  figures  in  the  second  column  of  the  table,  were 


102  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

.21  of  the  number  which  would  have  contained  it  if  it  had  been 
uniformly  distributed.  From  the  entry  in  the  third  column  it 
will  be  seen  that  in  small  rivers  the  abundance  of  Campostoma 
anomalum  was  a  little  more  than  2^  times  as  great  as  if  the 
species  had  been  uniformly  distributed;  and  from  the  fourth 
column,  that  in  creeks  it  was  a  little  more  than  3^  times  as 
abundant.  The  number  of  its  occurrences  in  lowland  lakes 
was  but  .05  of  the  normal  average,  and  in  upland  lakes  the 
species  has  not  been  taken  by  us  at  all. 

The  seventh  and  tenth  columns  of  these  figures  give  the 
numbers  of  collections  for  each  species  concerning  which  data 
were  recorded  available  for  computing  their  relative  frequencies 
in  rapid  and  quiet  waters,  and  on  clean  and  soft  bottoms. 
From  the  figures  in  the  last  six  columns  of  the  table  we  learn, 
concerning  Campostoma,  that  65  collections  give  us  a  coefficient 
of  1, 7  for  a  rapid  current  as  compared  with  .59  for  quiet  water, 
equal  frequency  in  the  two  situations  being,  as  before,  repre- 
sented by  1.  The  strong  preference  of  the  species  for  a  clean 
bottom  over  one  of  mud  is  shown  by  the  last  two  numbers, 
applying  to  105  collections,  the  two  coefficients  being  respec- 
tively 3.26  for  a  clean  bottom  and  .31  for  one  of  mud. 

In  Tables  II.  to  V.,  relating  to  minnows  and  the  environ- 
ment, the  species  most  characteristic  of  each  situation  are 
brought  together  in  lists  arranged  in  the  order  of  the  size  of 
their  coefficients  of  frequency.  The  remaining  lists  refer  to 
peculiarities  of  territorial  distribution  within  the  state. 

The  following  keys  and  descriptions  of  Cyprinidce  have  been 
designed  for  use  with  a  minimum  of  attention  to  obscure  charac- 
ters and  to  those  difficult  of  access.  However,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary in  all  cases  for  beginners  in  ichthyology  to  ascertain  by 
dissection  whether  their  specimen  belongs  to  the  long-  or  the 
short-intestined  class  of  minnows  (see  key  to  genera  of  Cy- 
prinidce). It  is  possible,  however,  to  dispose  entirely  with  the 
use  of  dental  characters  in  the  indentification  of  minnows, 
and  our  keys  have  been  constructed  with  that  fact  in  view; 
although,  for  the  purpose  of  completeness  and  for  the  aid  of 
those  who  may  wish  to  carry  their  studies  further  than  the  sim- 
plest artificial  key  will  take  them,  we  have  in  every  case  included 
a  reference  to  the  number  and  form  of  the  pharyngeal  teeth.* 

*  In  Illinois  Cyprinidce  the  main  row  of  teeth  on  each  pharyngeal  bone  contains  4  or  5  teeth; 
inside  of  this  main  row  is  a  so-called  "lesser  row  "  which  may  contain  1  or  2  teeth  or  be  un- 
represented altogether,  in  the  latter  case  being  designated  "0"  in  the  formula.  For  example, 


CYPRINID^E — THE   MINNOWS    AND   THE    CAEP  103 

KEY  TO  THE  GENERA  OF  NATIVE  CYPRINID^E  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

(Not  including  the  European  carp,  Cyprinus  carpio  Linnaeus,  which,  with  the 
goldfish,  Carassius  auratus  Linnaeus,  is  sufficiently  distinguished  from  all  native 
American  Cyprinidce  by  the  presence  of  a  serrated  spine  in  dorsal  and  anal  fins.) 

a.  Intestine  more  than  twice  length  of  body;   peritoneum  usually  black,  brown, 

or  very  dark  gray;    species  generally  mud- eaters. 

b.  Intestine  spirally  wound  around  air-bladder;  teeth  4-4  or  1,  4-4,  0 

Campostoma. 

bb.     Intestine  not  wound  around  air-bladder. 

c.  Scales  very  small,  65  to  90  in  longitudinal  series;  teeth  5-5,  or  4-5 

Chrosomus. 

cc.     Scales  larger,  about  35  to  50  in  lateral  line;   teeth  4-4. 

d.  Scales  before  dorsal  12  to  16  in  number,  not  crowded;    first   (rudimentary) 

ray  of  dorsal  fin  slender,  bony,  and  closely  attached  to  second 

Hybognathus. 

dd.  Scales  before  dorsal  small  and  considerably  crowded,  22  to  25  in  number; 
first  (rudimentary)  dorsal  ray  more  or  less  club-shaped,  inclosed  in  thick 
skin,  and  separated  from  second  ray  by  a  distinct  membrane. .  .  Pimephales. 

aa.  Intestine  less  than  twice  the  length  of  body;  peritoneum  usually  pale; 
species  generally  carnivorous,  or  partly  so. 

e.  Maxillary  without  barbel*. 

f.  Mouth  extremely  small  and  upturned,  the  angle  with  vertical  formed  by  its 

cleft  less  than  40*. 

g.  Peritoneum  pale;  teeth  4-5  or  5-5 Opsopoeodus. 

gg.     Peritoneum   black;    teeth   4-4.    Notropis   (anogenus   only;    for   main   division 

of  genus  see  k,  below). 
.  ff.     Mouth  horizontal  or  more  or  less  oblique,  the  angle  with  vertical  formed  by 

its  cleft  usually  much  more  than  40°. 

h.  Abdomen  behind  ventral  fins  with  a  sharp  keel-like  edge  over  which  the 
scales  do  not  pass;  body  much  compressed;  anal  fin  long,  its  rays  12  to 
14;  teeth  5-5 Abramis. 

hh.  Abdomen  behind  ventrals  never  sharply  keeled,  but  rounded  and  fully 
scaled;  form  various,  elongate  or  fusiform,  or  more  or  less  compressed. 

i.  First  (rudimentary)  ray  of  dorsal  club-like,  covered  with  thick  skin,  and 
separated  from  second  ray  by  a  distinct  membrane;  teeth  4-4 Cliola. 

ii.  First  (rudimentary)  ray  of  dorsal  slender  and  bony  and  closely  attached  to 
second. 

j.  Lips  normal,  nowhere  conspicuously  thickened;  the  mouth  subterminal, 
more  or  less  oblique. 

k.  Lower  portion  of  head  rounded,  not  swollen,  and  without  externally  visible 
mucus  channels;  teeth  in  the  main  row  normally  4-4,  the  lesser  row  often 
wanting  Notropis. 


"teeth  2.  4-4,2"  means  4  teeth  in  each  main  (outer)  row,  and  2  in  each  lesser  (inner)  row; 
"teeth  4-4"  means  that  there  is  but  a  single  row  on  each  pharyngeal  bone;  while  "1,  4-4,  0" 
would  indicate  that  the  lesser  row  is  represented  on  one  side  but  not  on  the  other.  The  teeth 
may  be  removed  for  study  in  the  smaller  species  by  the  use  of  a  needle  or  small  hook,  or  fine 
forceps,  which  should  be  inserted  through  the  gill-opening  at  the  back  of  the  opercular  cavity  and 
directly  under  the  shoulder  girdle.  A  convenient  mode  of  removal  consists  in  grasping  the 
shoulder  of  the  pharyngeal  arch  with  the  forceps  and  pulling  forwards  after  first  taking  care  to 
cut  loose  the  attachments  of  the  upper  and  lower  limbs.  The  whole  operation  may  be  performed 
without  removing  the  opercle,  which  may  be  merely  lifted  up  to  allow  room  for  insertion  of  the 
forceps. 

*  Care  should  be  exercised  here  as  a  barbel  may  be  present  but  concealed. 


104  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

kk.  Lower  portion  of  head  with  an  appearance  of  being  swollen,  the  suborbitals, 
interopercles,  and  dentaries  with  greatly  distended  mucus  cavities,  ap- 
pearing externally  as  transverse  vitreous  streaks;  teeth  4-4  or  1,  4-4,  1... 
Ericymba. 

jj.  Lower  lip  with  two  lateral  fleshy  lobes,  separated  at  the  middle  by  the  more 
or  less  horny  and  knob-like  chin;  scales  rather  small,  40  to  60  in  lateral 
line;  teeth  4-4 Phenacobius. 

ee.     Maxillary  with  a  barbel*  at  or  near  its  extremity  (sometimes  quite  small  and 

difficult  to  make  out,  especially  in  preserved  specimens). 

I.  Barbel  on  upper  side  of  maxillary  and  distinctly  in  front  of  its  posterior  tip; 
mouth  exceptionally  large,  maxillary  2.4  to  2.8  in  head;  scales  50  to  60; 
teeth  4  or  5  in  main  row,  1,  2,  or  0  in  lesser  row Semotilus. 

II.  Barbel  terminal  on  the  maxillary,  situated  in  the  axil  formed  at  meeting  of 
upper  and  lower  lip -grooves;  maxillary  more  than  2.8  in  head. 

m.     Premaxillaries  not  protractile;    scales  small,   60  to  70;    dorsal  fin  posterior; 

teeth    2.    4-4.    2 Rhinichthys. 

mm.    Premaxillaries  protractile. 

n.     Scales  35  to  45  in  lateral  line;   teeth  4-4,  or  1,  4-4,  1  or  0 Hybopsis. 

nn.  Scales  small,  50  to  60  in  lateral  line;  head  much  depressed  and  flattened 
above;  teeth  usually  2,  4-4,  2 Platygobio. 


GENUS  CYPRINUS  (ARTEDI)  LINNAEUS 

THE    CARP 

Mouth  with  four  long  barbels;  teeth  molar,  broad  and  truncate,  1,  1, 
3-3,  1,1;  dorsal  fin  very  long,  with  a  stout  spine  which  is  serrated  behind; 
anal  fin  with  a  serrated  spine.  Native  to  fresh  waters  of  Asia;  introduced 
into  ponds  and  streams  of  both  Europe  and  America,  where  they  are  now 
abundant. 

CYPRINUS  CARPIO  LINNAEUS 

EUROPEAN    CARP 
(3  PLATES) 

Linnaeus,  1758,  Syst.  Nat.,  Ed.  X,  320. 

G.,  VII,  25;   J.  &  G.,  254;   M.  V.,  50;   J.  &  E.,  I,  201;   L.,  13. 

Length  2  feet  or  over;  body  robust,  compressed;  back  considerably 
elevated;  general  form  resembling  that  of  the  buffalo-fishes  (Ictiobus);  depth 
in  length  2.75  to  3.4  (as  a  rule  less  than  3);  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.2  to  1.4 
in  its  length.  Color  olivaceous,  upper  parts  dusky  to  bluish;  lower  part  of 
sides  and  belly  more  or  less  yellowish.  Head  conical,  tapering  rapidly  from 
above  to  the  tip  of  the  pointed  snout,  3  to  4  in  length;  width  of  head  1.4  to 
1.6  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  nearly  flat,  2.3  to  2.7  in  head;  eye  5.5  to 
6.8  in  head;  nose  bluntly  pointed,  2.6  to  3.3  in  head;  mouth  rather  small, 
anterior,  oblique,  the  maxillary  not  reaching  past  anterior  nostril,  3.3  to  3.9 
(usually  about  3.5)  in  head;  two  pairs  of  maxillary  barbels,  the  upper  shorter, 
the  lower  longer  than  eye;  teeth  broad  and  truncate  with  molar  surfaces, 
in  three  rows,  1,  1  or  2,  3-3, 1  or  2.  1;  intestine  longer  than  body;  peritoneum 
gray,  often  more  or  less  specked.  Dorsal  and  anal  fins  each  with  a  large 

*  Read  1  and  11  for  exact  indication  of  location  of  barbel. 


-: 

c      <u 
' 


II 

t1    S 
' 


<   ^ 


<  5 

w  <" 

O  G 

*  I 


CYPRINUS — THE    CARP  105 

strong  posteriorly  serrated  spine;  dorsal  rays  17  to  21,  the  base  of  the  fin 
longer  than  the  head,  the  spine  and  first  three  rays  higher  than  the  posterior 
part  of  the  fin,  as  in  the  buffaloes,  insertion  of  dorsal  slightly  in  front  of  ven- 
trals;  anal  rays  5  or  6;  pectorals  reaching  nearly  to  front  of  ventrals,  1.3  to 
1.5  in  head;  ventrals  scarcely  %  to  vent.  Scales  5  or  6,  35  to  37,  5  or  6;  lateral 
line  continuous,  usually  somewhat  flexuose. 

The  above  description  is  based  on  specimens  of  scale-carp 
only;  the  mirror  and  leather  varieties,  differing  from  the  scaled 
forms  chiefly  in  the  squamation,  are  comparatively  rare  in  the 
waters  of  this  state. 

The  carp,  which  is  native  in  China,  was  introduced  into 
Europe  as  early  as  1227  (Hessel),  and  was  first  brought  to 
England  at  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century.  The  first 
successful  introduction  of  carp  into  the  United  States  was  made 
in  1877,  when  R.  Hessel,  for  the  U.  S.  Fish  Commission,  brought 
345  carp  to  this  country.  Of  these,  227  were  of  the  mirror  and 
leather  varieties,  and  118  were  scale-carp.  All  were  put  into 
ponds  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  multiplied  rapidly,  more  than 
12,000  young  being  distributed  in  1879  to  more  than  300  persons 
in  25  states  and  territories.  From  that  time  distribution  rapidly 
increased  until  a  few  years  before  its  final  discontinuance  in  1897. 

The  introduction  of  carp  into  the  waters  of  Illinois  began 
with  the  first  distribution  (1879),  and  in  1880  scaled  carp  to  the 
number  of  800  were  received  from  the  U.  S.  Fish  Commission. 
In  1881  and  1882  a  total  of  2,500  more  carp  were  received  and 
distributed  by  the  Illinois  Fish  Commission,  the  distribution 
being  mostly  made  in  lots  of  only  ten  to  a  single  person.  In 
1885  the  first  carp  were  planted  in  public  waters,  a  total  of 
30,900  being  set  free  in  the  Illinois,  Fox,  Sangamon,  Des  Plaines, 
Kaskaskia,  Little  Wabash,  Big  Muddy,  and  a  few  other  streams. 
In  1886  the  first  large  carp  was  caught  in  the  Illinois  River,  a 
specimen  30  inches  long  being  taken  at  Meredosia — probably 
escaped  from  some  pond  which  had  received  a  consignment 
from  one  of  the  early  distributions.  In  1887  about  16,000,  more 
carp  were  planted  in  the  public  waters  of  the  state.  Between 
1888  and  1890  reports  of  the  capture  of  carp  of  considerable 
size  increased  in  number,  particularly  from  points  along  the 
Illinois  River,  and  by  1892  this  fish  had  multiplied  to  such  an 
extent  in  the  waters  about  Havana  that  more  than  3,000  Ib 
were  taken  from  Clear  Lake  in  a  single  haul.  A  year  earlier 
Bowles  had  begun  to  ship  carp  from  Meredosia.  By  1898  the 
multiplication  and  utilization  of  carp  had  increased  to  such  an 

—16  P 


106  FISHES   OF  ILLINOIS 

extent  in  this  state  that  Captain  John  A.  Schulte,  of  Havana, 
wrote:  "From  the  information  I  can  get  as  an  official  of  the 
Illinois  Fishermen's  Association  from  all  points  along  the  Illinois 
River,  the  carp  have  brought  more  money  than  the  catch  of  all 
the  other  fish  combined.  Long  live  the  carp!"  Carp  are  now 
found  very  generally  distributed  over  the  state,  being  most 
common,  however,  in  the  Illinois  River  and  in  our  other  larger 
and  more  sluggish  streams  and  lakes  and  bayous  connecting 
with  them.  They  are  not  yet  very  abundant  in  southern 
Illinois.  The  carp  catch  of  the  Illinois  River  alone  now  reaches 
six  to  eight  million  pounds  a  year,  valued  at  more  than  $200,000. 

Three  races  of  carp  are  distinguishable:  (1)  the  regularly- 
scaled  form,  which  is  nearest  to  the  native  type  of  the  domesti- 
cated races;  (2)  the  mirror-carp,  which  has  the  body  partly  bare, 
with  but  two  or  three  irregular  rows  of  large  scales  along  the 
back;  and  (3)  the  leather-carp,  which  is  scaleless,  with  a  thick, 
soft,  velvety  skin.  Many  local  German  races  of  carp,  of  no 
interest  here,  have  been  described.  Although  the  first  impor- 
tation of  carp  by  the  U.  S.  Fish  Commission  contained  a  greater 
proportion  of  the  mirror  and  leather  races  than  of  the  scaled 
carp,  the  former  did  not  thrive  except  under  domestication,  and 
to-day  there  are  few  mirror  or  leather  carp  living  in  a  wild  state 
in  American  waters.* 

Carp  prefer  moderately  warm  water,  not  too  deep,  and  with 
plenty  of  aquatic  vegetation.  They  will  live  in  almost  any 
situation,  thriving  in  waters  of  all  degrees  of  turbidity  and  con- 
tamination. They  are  very  hardy  under  extremes  of  tempera- 
ture, and  are  easily  resuscitated  after  freezing.  Carp  shipped 
from  Havana,  111.,  to  New  York  City  by  freight  arrive  alive 
provided  the  gills  are  kept  moist  by  melting  ice.  Although  of 
lazy  habit,  resting  much  of  the  time  on  the  bottom,  they  are 
wary,  and  are  particularly  quick  to  find  a  way  out  of  a  net,  or 
to  jump  over  it.  They  are  omnivorous  feeders,  taking  princi- 
pally vegetable  matter,  but  insect  larvae,  crustaceans  and  mol- 
lusks,  and  other  small  aquatic  animals  as  well.  They  often  pull 
up  the  roots  of  tender  aquatic  plants  while  feeding.  Cole 
(1905)  found  them  feeding  at  all  times  of  day.  They  apparently 
seek  deeper  water  in  winter,  where  they  remain  semi-torpid, 
taking  little  or  no  food. 

*  Cole  (1905)  found  that  over  91  per  cent,  of  3,000  carp  counted  at  Lake  Erie  were  scaled 
carp.  In  half  a  carload  of  carp  looked  over  as  they  were  unloaded  from  skiffs  at  Havana  in 
August  1905,  I  was  unable  to  detect  a  single  specimen  of  the  mirror  or  leather  varieties. — 
R.  E.  R. 


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CYPRINUS — THE   CARP  107 

Carp  spawn  in  the  northern  United  States  in  May  and 
June.  The  eggs  are  small  and  exceedingly  numerous,  400,000  to 
500,000  being  a  common  number  in  a  4-  or  5-lb  female.  They 
spawn  most  frequently  during  the  early  hours  of  the  morning 
One  large  female  is  ordinarily  accompanied  by  four  or  five  males. 
Five  or  six  hundred  eggs  are  emitted  at  a  time,  the  oviposition 
being  accompanied  by  much  splashing  on  the  part  of  both 
sexes.  The  eggs  are  scattered  about,  according  to  Cole,  ad- 
hering to  roots  and  stems  and  other  objects.  In  moderately 
warm  weather  the  young  hatch,  in  this  latitude,  in  about  twelve 
days.  The  young  carp  reach  a  length  of  4  to  6  inches  by  the 
end  of  the  first  summer,  and  attain  a  weight  of  about  1  Ib  in 
twelve  months.  By  the  end  of  the  second  summer  a  weight 
of  about  3  Ib  may  be  reached,  this  depending  upon  their  nourish- 
ment. They  first  spawn  in  the  spring  of  their  third  year. 
Carp  in  our  waters  do  not  ordinarily  reach  more  than  5  to  10 
Ib  weight,  although  occasional  specimens  have  been  taken 
weighing  as  much  as  30  Ib.  In  Europe  double  the  latter  weight 
is  said  to  have  been  reached  in  one  or  two  instances. 

The  carp  lends  itself  more  readily  perhaps  than  any  other 
fish  to  the  requirements  of  artificial  culture.  The  rearing  of 
carp  is  a  very  ancient  practice,  a  treatise  on  the  subject  by  a 
Chinese  dating  from  the  third  century.  In  this  country  it  has 
practically  been  discontinued  since  the  species  has  multiplied 
on  such  a  vast  scale  in  our  natural  waters.  However,  the 
adaptability  of  the  carp  to  confinement  is  still  taken  advantage 
of  in  certain  localities,  especially  in  the  Great  Lake  region,  in 
the  use  of  retention  ponds,  in  which  large  numbers  of  the  sum- 
mer catch  are  held  over  to  get  the  advantage  of  the  winter 
market. 

Carp  bite  readily  on  such  baits  as  worms,  liver,  paste,  and 
bread  crumbs,  and  in  fact  will  take  nearly  any  except  live  bait, 
and  they  are  not  lacking  in  game  qualities  when  hooked.  They 
have  long  been  valued  by  English  anglers,  but  are  not  much 
thought  of  by  the  American  sportsman  of  the  newer  school. 

The  carp  does  not  hold  a  very  high  place  as  an  edible  fish. 
As  a  cheap  flesh  food  it  compares  favorably  in  price  with  any 
of  the  products  of  either  fresh  or  salt  water.  Various  efforts 
have  been  made  to  devise  means  of  preparing  carp  in  a  way  both 
simple  and  acceptable  to  palates  accustomed  to  better  fish. 
The  Germans  in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  muddy  flavor,  have  in 
some  instances  adopted  the  plan  of  placing  the  carp  in  fresh 


108  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

running  water  for  a  short  time  before  cooking.  Such  a  measure 
is  not  generally  practicable  in  this  country,  where  the  resources 
of  cultural  establishments  are  lacking,  and  the  sole  recourse  is 
to  parboiling  and  spicing  and  other  subterfuges  of  the  cuisine. 
Experiments  recently  made  in  this  country  in  smoking  and  salt- 
ing carp  have  not  been  very  successful.  Carp  caviar  is  known 
to  have  been  used  in  former  centuries  by  the  Jews  of  Italy, 
but  its  red  color  is  objectionable  to  the  American  purchaser. 
Owing  to  the  low  price  which  carp  bring  in  springtime — often 
not  more  than  a  third  of  a  cent  per  pound — many  of  these  fish 
in  the  Great  Lake  region  are  used  for  fertilizing,  although  the 
more  progressive  firms  are  more  and  more  holding  the  spring 
and  summer  catches  for  the  better  winter  price — two  to  two 
and  a  half  cents  per  pound. 

Among  fishermen  and  anglers  in  America  the  carp  has  both 
its  partisans  and  its  enemies.  However,  it  is  coming  more  and 
more  to  be  believed  that  its  good  qualities  more  than  overbalance 
the  other  side  of  the  account,  the  most  serious  of  the  charges 
against  it  appearing  to  rest  on  uncertain  or  gratuitously  assumed 
premises.  These  charges  have  been,  in  brief,  that  carp  roil  the 
water  and  spoil  the  breeding  and  feeding  grounds  of  other  fish; 
that  they  eat  the  spawn  of  other  fish  and  prevent  the  nesting  of 
such  species  as  bass  and  sunfishes;  that  they  spoil  the  feeding 
grounds  of  water-birds  by  eating  and  rooting  up  the  wild  rice 
and  other  aquatic  plants;  and,  that  they  are  of  no  value  either 
as  a  food  or  a  game  fish.  With  regard  to  the  first  charge  it 
appears  doubtful  if  the  damage  is  serious  in  waters  already  as 
muddy  as  those  of  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers.  Carp  do 
not  naturally  seek  out  clear  and  cold  waters  to  defile  them,  and 
they  would  probably  in  no  case  be  serious  competitors  of  such 
fish  as  trout  and  small-mouthed  bass. 

The  second  charge,  if  true,  is  a  much  more  serious  one;  but 
few  direct  observations  bearing  on  this  point  have  been  made. 
The  common  form  of  the  argument,  that  "carp  eat  spawn,  as 
shown  by  the  simultaneous  rapid  increase  of  carp  and  decrease 
of  fine,  fish, "  is  not  supported  by  the  statistics  of  the  fisheries 
of  the  Illinois  River.  These  show,  on  the  contrary,  that  during 
the  five  years  between  1894  and  1899,  when  the  carp  catch 
increased  from  %  to  8^/3  million  pounds,  the  black  bass,  instead 
of  decreasing,  increased  from  70,000  to  102,000  Ib.  The  de- 
crease in  black  bass  between  1899  and  1903  to  45,000  Ib  was 
accompanied  by  a  corresponding  decrease  in  carp  to  6,000,000 


CYPEINUS — THE    CARP  109 

lb.  It  is  shown  also  that  catfish  gradually  increased  from  700,- 
000  to  990,000  lb  between  1894  and  1903;  that  crappie  in- 
creased from  13'8,000  to  210,000  lb;  that  sunfish  increased  from 
175,000  to  507,000  lb  between  1894  and  1899,  falling  off  some- 
what in  1903;  and  that  suckers,  although  falling  off  from  155,000 
to  67,000  lb  between  1894  and  1899,  rose  again  to  199,999  lb  in 
1903.  The  sole  important  commercial  species  that  have  fallen 
off  steadily  since  1894  are  buffalo  and  drum,  the  first  declining 
from  3}/3  million  pounds  to  about  half  that  amount  in  1903; 
and  drum  from  348,000  to  less  than  100,000  lb  in  the  year  last 
mentioned.  If  these  records  show  anything  at  all  it  would 
seem  to  be  that  the  competition  of  the  carp  as  spawn-eater  and 
water-soiler  has  not  seriously  affected  many  of  our  Illinois 
River  species.  It  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  causes  entirely 
apart  from  depredations  and  competition  of  carp  may  have 
had  a  large  influence  in  producing  the  recent  decrease  of  buffalo 
and  drum.  Among  such  causes  may  be  mentioned  increased 
contamination  of  waters  from  municipal  and  industrial  sources; 
the  obliteration,  by  drainage  and  diking,  of  backwaters  used 
as  spawning  grounds;  and  the  increased  rapidity  of  run-off 
from  the  prairie  and  upland,  as  a  result  of  tiling  and  the  cutting 
of  the  forests,  affecting  the  extent  and  duration  of  the  spawning 
havens  afforded  by  both  swampy  areas  and  small  streams.  To 
these  causes  is  to  be  assigned  the  decrease  and  approximate  dis- 
appearance of  such  minor  species  as  pickerel  and  lake  sturgeon, 
which  were  never  very  abundant  in  the  rivers  in  question,  and 
which  began  to  fall  off  in  numbers  long  before  the  carp  entered 
the  field. 

It  is  not  denied  that  carp  will  eat  fish  spawn;  but  it  has  not 
yet  been  shown  that  they  seek  out  spawn  for  the  purpose  of 
consuming  it.  Black  bass,  crappie,  and  sunfish  are  doubtless 
able  to  defend  their  nests  against  carp  in  any  case.  Certainly 
the  devouring  of  spawn  has  not  affected  the  multiplication,  as 
shown  by  the  output,  of  any  of  these  three  species,  or  of  suckers 
or  catfish.  That  even  a  favorable  effect  of  the  multiplication 
of  the  carp  is  not  impossible  is  evident  when  it  is  remembered 
that  the  myriads  of  young  carp  offer  an  almost  inexhaustible 
supply  of  food  to  the  growing  bass,  crappies,  and  sunfish.  The 
drum  and  buffalo,  which  have  decreased,  are  in  their  food  habits 
more  directly  in  competition  with  the  carp — being  chiefly  bot- 
tom feeders,  utilizing  mollusks,  crustaceans,  and  insect  larvae. 


HO  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Of  the  third  charge  little  can  be  said.  While  it  is  admitted 
by  all  competent  to  judge  that  carp  do  uproot  vegetation  in 
large  quantities,  no  means  are  at  hand  for  comparing  the  effect  of 
this  destruction  on  the  decrease  of  water-birds  with  the  effects  of 
the  operations  of  the  hunters  themselves.  Since  1900  the  prob- 
lem has  been  complicated  in  the  case  of  the  Illinois  River  by  the 
effect  of  the  increased  flow  from  Lake  Michigan,  which  has 
diminished  vegetation  in  many  areas. 

GENUS  CAMPOSTOMA  AGASSIZ 

STONE-ROLLERS 

Body  elongate,  little  compressed;  jaws  with  thick  lips;  premaxillaries 
protractile;  no  barbel;  teeth  4-4  or  1,  4-4,  0,  with  oblique  grinding  surface 
and  a  slight  hook  on  one  or  two  teeth;  intestine  6  to  9  times  length  of  body, 
wound  hi  mariy  coils  about  the  air-bladder,  which  is  suspended  in  the  ab- 
dominal cavity,  this  condition  being  unique  in  Campostoma  among  all  known 
fishes;  peritoneum  black;  dorsal  rays  8;  anal  rays  7  or  8;  scales  46  to  75; 
lateral  line  present.  Size  moderate,  not  over  6  or  8  inches.  Four  species 
known. 

CAMPOSTOMA  ANOMALUM    (EAFINESQUE) 
STONE-ROLLER;  DOUGH-BELLY;  GREASED  CHUB 

(MAP  XXIII) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  52  (Rutilus). 

G.,  VII,  183   (dubium);   J.  &  G.,  149,  150   (prolixum) ;   M.  V.,  52;    J.  &  E.,  I,  205;    N. 
44;   J.,  55;  F.,  79;  F.  F.,  I.  6,  77;  L.,  14. 

Distinguishable  from  all  other  Illinois  Cyprinidce  by  the  peculiar  dis- 
position of  the  very  long  intestine,  which  is  wound  many  times  in  a  trans- 
verse spiral  about  the  air-bladder  in  the  species  of  this  genus,  in  which  alone 
of  all  fishes  this  arrangement  is  known  to  occur.  Length  6  inches;  body 
stoutish,  subfusiform,  only  moderately  compressed;  depth  3.9  to  4.8  in 
length,  usually  more  than  4.3  in  adults;  caudal  peduncle  as  a  rule  somewhat 
longer  than  head,  its  depth  2  to  2.5  in  its  length;  old  males  heavy  forward, 
the  predorsal  region  swollen  and  the  back  more  or  less  elevated.  Color 
brownish  olive,  the  upper  parts  with  brassy  luster;  sides  and  caudal  peduncle 
irregularly  blotched  or  mottled  with  blackish;  belly  satiny  whitish;  a  dusky 
vertical  bar  behind  opercle;  males  with  a  dark  cross-bar  through  middle  of 
dorsal  and  anal  and  a  vertical  bar  at  base  of  caudal,  especially  conspicuous 
in  spring,  when  the  rest  of  each  fin  is  fiery  red  and  the  snout  and  sometimes 
almost  the  entire  body  covered  with  tubercles;  females  sometimes  with  a 
faint  dusky  cross-bar  on  dorsal,  the  anal  and  caudal  plain;  young  with  more 
or  less  pinkish  to  purplish  on  body.  Head  subconic,  little  compressed,  4  to 
4.6  in  length,  its  width  in  its  length  1.7  to  2;  interorbital  space  very  little 
convex,  2.5  to  3.3  in  head,  usually  less  than  3;  eye  small,  circular,  4.2  to  5.2 
in  head,  situated  forward  of  middle  of  head  and  nearer  its  upper  than  under 


CAMPOSTOMA — STONE-ROLLEES  111 

surface;  nose  2.3  to  2.8,  the  muzzle  moderately  decurved,  overhanging  the 
rather  large  and  horizontal  mouth;  maxillary  3.3  to  4.6  in  head,  reaching 
scarcely  back  of  vertical  from  posterior  nostril;  lower  jaw  wholly  included; 
upper  lip  quite  fleshy;  breadth  of  isthmus  1.3  to  1.5  times  diameter  of  orbit. 
Teeth  4-A  or  1, 4-4, 0,  with  oblique  grinding  surface  without  terminal  hooks, 
or  with  only  a  slight  one  on  one  or  two  teeth;  intestine  5  to  9.5  times  length 
of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  black.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  set  slightly 
behind  ventrals  and  nearly  midway  between  muzzle  and  base  of  caudal; 
longest  dorsal  ray  1.2  to  1.6  in  head;  anal  rays  7;  pectorals  about  %  to 
ventral?,  1.2  to  1.4  in  head,  ventrals  falling  quite  short  of  vent  in  males, 
reaching  or  almost  reaching  it  in  females.  Scales  rather  small,  6-8,  46-53, 
6-8.  more  or  less  crowded  forward,  the  crowding  scarcely  noticeable  in  females 
but  very  evident  and  often  conspicuous  in  old  males;  scales  on  breast  very 
small,  about  15  transverse  series  between  pectorals;  scales  before  dorsal  15 
to  26;  lateral  line  complete. 

This  is  a  species  of  wide  distribution  occurring  in  the  Great 
Lake  region,  along  the  south  Atlantic  slope  to  the  Gulf,  and  in 
the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  from  Wyoming  to  Indiana,  Ohio, 
and  Texas. 

It  is  a  fish  of  the  creeks  and  the  smaller  rivers,  its  ratios  of 
preference,  according  to  our  collections,  being  3*4  for  the  former 
and  2^  for  the  latter.  It  has  been  taken  only  occasionally  by 
us  from  rivers  of  a  large  size,  and  but  rarely  from  lakes  and  ponds. 
Indeed,  the  notable  preference  of  the  species  for  rocky  or  sandy 
streams  as  shown  by  its  frequency  coefficient  of  3.26,  and  for 
swift  water  over  still  water  (coefficients  respectively,  1.70  and 
.59)  would  tend  to  exclude  it  from  stagnant  or  muddy  waters  of 
any  description.  In  accordance  with  these  preferences,  it  has 
not  once  occurred  in  our  collections  from  the  streams  of  the 
lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  none  of  our  166  Illinois  localities  for 
this  species  falling  within  that  district.  Nine  of  them  are  from 
the  hill  region  of  extreme  southern  Illinois,  and  one  is  from  the 
Wabash  in  Wabash  county,  but  the  southernmost  points  for  the 
remaining  156  localities  are  in  Montgomery  county  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  state,  and  in  Coles  county  in  the  eastern  part. 

This  species  is  distinguished  from  all  our  other  minnows  by 
the  great  length  of  the  intestine,  which  is  wound  spirally  about 
the  air-bladder.  There  are  about  twenty  gill-rakers  to  each  gill, 
but  they  are  so  short  as  to  constitute  a  very  inefficient  straining 
apparatus.  The  pharyngeal  teeth  have  well-developed  grinding 
surfaces,  and  are  practically  without  terminal  hook.  Intestines 
of  specimens  examined  with  reference  to  the  food  of  the  species 
were  invariably  found  filled  from  end  to  end  with  a  slime-like 
matter  consisting  almost  wholly  of  fine  mud  from  which,  with 


112  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

proper  treatment,  fragments  of  organic  matter  could  be  readily 
separated.  This  was  nearly  all  of  vegetable  origin,  chiefly 
filamentous  algae,  with  diatoms,  and  minute  fragments  of  vari- 
ous kinds  of  plant  tissue.  Sometimes  the  intestine  was  filled 
with  almost  pure  mud. 

Dr.  Jordan  says  of  this  species  that  "it  spawns  early  in 
spring,  and  it  ascends  in  great  numbers  all  the  running  streams 
even  the  very  smallest.  Later  it  retires  to  the  deeper  places  in 
the  creeks,  where  it  may  be  readily  recognized  by  its  quick 
motions  and  dusky  colors.  Most  of  the  specimens  seen  are 
comparatively  small,  but  occasionally  an  old  male  may  be 
noticed  in  the  spring  with  its  entire  body  rough  and  gray  with 
tubercles,  and  with  its  vertical  fins  gaily  variegated  with  black 
and  orange.  Such  individuals  appear  to  have  exhausted  their 
vitality  and  die  quickly  in  confinement,  and  are  often  found 
dead.  Young  individuals  are  active  and  hardy  in  the  aquarium, 
where  they  feed  on  confer vse  and  .diatoms. " 

This  minnow  is  unusually  tenacious  of  life,  being  among  the 
hardiest  of  the  aquarium  fishes  and  extremely  persistent  on  the 
hook.  It  is  regarded  by  anglers  as  one  of  the  best  of  live  baits 
for  black-bass  fishing.  Males  in  breeding  dress  and  females 
apparently  near  spawning  have  been  found  by  us  from  Novem- 
ber 15  to  December  15  in  fall,  and  from  May  1  to  June  15  in 
spring.  Breeding  males  often  have  the  head  and  almost  the 
entire  body  tuberculate.  According  to  Dr.  Reighard,  an  ex- 
cavation is  made  by  the  male  in  sand  or  gravel  in  advance  of 
spawning. 

GENUS  CHROSOMUS  EAFINESQUE 

Body  moderately  elongate;  not  much  compressed;  no  barbel;  jaws 
normal;  premaxillaries  protractile;  teeth  5-5  or  4-5,  moderately  hooked, 
with  well-marked  grinding  surface;  alimentary  canal  twice  length  of  body; 
peritoneum  black;  dorsal  rays  7  or  8;  anal  rays  9;  scales  small,  67  to  85  in 
lateral  series;  lateral  line  imperfect  or  wanting;  size  small,  not  over  3  inches. 
Three  species;  New  England  to  the  Dakotas,  chiefly  northward. 

CHROSOMUS  ERYTHROGASTER  EAFINESQUE 

RED-BELLIED   DACE 

(MAP  XXIV) 

Raflnesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  47   (Luxilus),  48. 

G.,  VII,  247  (Leuciscus);   J.  &  Gu  153;   M.  V.,  53;  J.  &  E.,  I,  209;   N.(  47;   J.(  61;   F., 
79;  F.  F.,  1.  6,  80;  L,.,  14. 

The  minute  scales,  77  to  91,  in  the  lateral  line,  and  the  two  longitudinal 
stripes  of  dark  color  upon  the  sides,  will  readily  distinguish  the  present  species 


CHKOSOMUS  113 

from  all  other  species  of  Cyprinidce  found  within  our  range.  Length  2  to  3 
inches;  body  oblong,  moderately  compressed,  tapering  about  equally  each 
way  from  middle  of  body;  depth  4.4  to  4.9  in  length;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle 
2.1  to  2.4  in  its  length.  Color  above  brownish  olive,  with  a  broad  vertebral 
streak  of  dusky  and  dark  spots  forming  an  indistinct  row  on  upper  part  of 
each  side;  sides  marked  with  two  black  stripes  (faint  in  females),  the  upper 
and  narrower  one  extending  from  upper  corner  of  gill-cleft  nearly  straight 
backward  to  base  of  caudal,  sometimes  breaking  up  into  spots  or  oblique 
bars  on  caudal  peduncle;  the  lower  stripe  broader,  extending  from  snout 
through  eye  and  along  lower  portion  of  sides  to  end  of  caudal  peduncle, 
followed  by  a  black  spot  at  base  of  caudal  rays;  the  interspace  between  lateral 
bands  a  bright  silvery  or  satiny  cream,  tinged  with  brassy  to  crimson  in  males; 
belly  white,  overlaid  with  silvery;  females  much  more  obsurely  marked  than 
males  which  in  spring  coloration  have  the  belly,  breast,  and  chin  bright 
scarlet,  and  the  fins  a  bright  lemon-yellow,  the  dorsal  with  a  large  blotch  of 
bright  scarlet  at  its  base  and  the  body  everywhere  minutely  tuberculate. 
Head  rather  pointed,  4  to  4.2  in  length,  its  width  1.8  to  2;  interorbital  space 
nearly  flat,  2.6  to  3  in  head;  eye  3.3  to  3.8;  nose  2.9  to  3.5,  short,  pointed, 
longer  than  the  small  eye;  mouth  moderate,  terminal,  oblique,  the  tip  of 
upper  lip  nearly  at  level  of  middle  of  pupil;  maxillary  3.2  to  4  in  head  (usually 
greater  than  3.4),  reaching  but  slightly  past  anterior  nostril-opening;  jaws 
about  equal;  isthmus  less  than  width  of  eye.  Teeth  4-4, 4-5,  or  5-5,  long, 
slender,  and  compressed,  with  a  long  and  narrow  masticatory  groove,  and 
with  tips  slightly  hooked;  intestine  2.4  to  3.5  times  length  of  head  and  body; 
peritoneum  black.  Dorsal  fin  with  rays  usually  7,  in  occasional  instances 
6,  placed  behind  ventrals  and  about  equidistant  between  snout  and  base  of 
caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.1  to  1.3  in  head;  anal  rays  7  or  8,  usually  8; 
pectorals  1.2  to  1.5  in  head;  ventrals  reaching  vent.  Scales  very  small, 
17-20, 77-91, 9-12  (not  usually  over  85  in  Illinois  specimens),  of  uniform  size 
everywhere,  the  exposed  surfaces  scarcely  deeper  than  long;  lateral  line 
incomplete,  there  being  usually  no  pores  present  on  posterior  half  of  body; 
scales  before  dorsal  35  or  40. 

This  beautiful  species,  one  of  the  most  showy  in  our  waters, 
occurs  rarely  in  our  collections  from  the  northern  half  of  the  state 
and  from  extreme  southern  Illinois.  None  of  our  twenty-two 
localities  of  its  occurrence  falls  within  the  lower  glaciation,  and 
all  but  three  of  them  are  in  northern  Illinois.  We  have  not 
taken  the  species  from  Lake  Michigan  or  from  any  part  of  the 
lake  drainage.  Outside  the  state  it'  has  been  reported  from 
Maine  and  New  Brunswick  to  North  Carolina,  from  Michigan, 
and  from  the  Ohio  Valley  generally  to  the  streams  of  Kansas 
tributary  to  the  Missouri,  and  to  northern  Alabama.  It  is 
commonly  found  only  in  small  clear  streams,  and  has  not  once 
been  taken  by  us  from  any  of  the  larger  rivers. 

Its  food  is  evidently  obtained  by  nibbling  or  sucking  the 
surface  slime  from  stones  and  other  objects  on  the  bottom.  It 


114  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

consists,  in  all  the  cases  examined  by  us,  mainly  of  mud  con- 
taining algae  with  an  occasional  trace  of  Entomostraca. 

The  breeding  season  falls  in  May  and  June,  at  which  time 
the  colors  of  the  male  reach  their  most  gorgeous  development. 
While  not  especially  hardy,  this  species  lives  well  in  the  aqua- 
rium, where  it  is  indeed  a  most  beautiful  object. 

GENUS  HYBOGNATHUS  AGASSIZ 

Body  elongate,  somewhat  compressed;  jaws  normal,  sharp-edged,  the 
lower  in  some  species  with  a  slight  hard  protuberance  in  front;  premaxillaries 
protractile;  no  barbel;  teeth  4-4,  with  oblique  grinding  surface  and  little  if 
any  hook;  alimentary  canal  3  to  10  times  length  of  body;  peritoneum  black; 
dorsal  rays  8;  anal  rays  7  to  9,  scales  large,  usually  32  to  41  in  lateral  series; 
lateral  line  complete.  Size  moderate,  2^  to  6  inches.  Described  species 
numerous,  though  most  are  imperfectly  known,  and  doubtless  many  syn- 
onyms. Ventral  and  southwestern  United  States  into  northern  Mexico; 
two  species  found  in  Illinois. 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  HYBOGNATHUS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.     Silvery  species,  with  a  prominent  hard  protuberance  at  tip  of  inside  of  lower 

jaw  and  with  teeth  long  and  scarcely  hooked;  length  6  inches nuchalis. 

aa.  Olivaceous,  with  dark  lateral  band  continued  through  eye  to  end  of  snout; 
no  symphysial  protuberance;  teeth  short  and  distinctly  hooked;  length 
2%  inches  nubila. 

HYBOGNATHUS  NUCHALIS  AGASSIZ 

SILVERY   MINNOW 

(MAP  XXV) 

Agassiz,  1855,  Am  Jour.  Sci.  Arts  (Silliman's  Journal),  XIX,  224. 
G.,  VII,  184;  J.  &  G.,  156;   M.  V.,  53;   J.  &  E.,  I,  213;   N.,  45   (also  argyritis),  J.,  56 
(also  argyritis);  F.,  79;  F.  F.,  I.  6,  79;  L.,  14. 

A  large  silvery  minnow,  with  large  and  loosely  imbricated  scales,  spindle- 
shaped  body  and  pointed  head,  the  lower  jaw  thin  and  hard  and  furnished 
with  a  small  hard  lump  just  inside  the  mouth  in  front.  Length  6  inches, 
body  subfusiform,  not  much  compressed,  deepest  at  front  of  dorsal  and 
tapering  about  equally  backward  to  base  of  caudal  and  forward  to  the  pointed 
snout;  depth  3.9  to  4.5  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  rather  stout,  shorter  than 
head,  its  depth  1.7  to  2.3  (usually  less  than  2)  in  its  length.  Color  olivaceous 
green  above,  translucent  in  life;  sides  clear  silvery,  with  bright  reflections; 
fins  unspotted;  scales  not  distinctly  dark-edged,  their  entire  surface  being 
about  equally  specked.  Head  small,  slender,  subconical,  its  length  4  to  4.6, 
its  width  1.8  to  2.1  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  gently  convex,  2.5  to  2.9 
in  head;  eye  small,  circular,  3.8  to  4.5  in  head;  nose  2.9  to  3.5  in  head,  pointed 
and  considerably  longer  than  the  small  eye;  mouth  small,  terminal,  oblique, 
tip  of  upper  lip  not  far  below  level  of  middle  of  pupil;  maxillary  3.6  to  4.3  in 
head,  its  length  but  little  greater  than  diameter  of  eye;  back  of  maxillary 


HTBOGNATHUS  115 

falling  far  short  of  orbit,  scarcely  exceeding  as  a  rule  the  vertical  from  an- 
terior nostril-opening;  lower  jaw  with  a  hard  sharp  edge  and  a  noticeable 
protuberance  just  inside  the  mouth  at  the  symphysisof  the  mandibles;  jaws 
about  equal;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  4-4,  narrow,  with  little  grinding 
surface  and  very  little  hook;  intestine  extremely  variable  in  length,  from 
3.7  to  8  times  length  of  head  and  body,  being  as  a  rule  over  5;  peritoneum 
dusky.  Dorsal  fin  with  usually  8  rays,  occasionally  7,  set  slightly  in  front 
of  ventrals,  usually  a  little  nearer  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal 
ray  1  to  1.2  in  head;  anal  rays  8  (rarely  7);  pectorals  1.1  to  1.4  in  head;  ven- 
trals falling  far  short  of  vent  in  adults.  Scales  5,  37-39, 4,  large  and  rounded, 
the  exposed  surfaces  little  deeper  than  long;  lateral  line  complete,  and  nearly 
straight  except  for  a  slight  downward  curve  in  front  of  ventrals;  scales  before 
dorsal  13  to  16. 

This  species  is  generally  distributed  throughout  the  state, 
occurring  in  all  our  stream  systems,  including  those  of  the  Michi- 
gan drainage,  but  most  abundantly  in  those  of  southern  Illinois. 
It  is  essentially  a  river  species — one  of  the  few  Illinois  minnows 
occurring  in  larger  ratio  in  rivers  than  in  creeks.  It  is  most 
abundant  in  rivers  of  the  second  class  (coefficient,  2.18),  and 
next  in  creeks  (1.91),  but  we  have  also  found  it  not  very  in^ 
frequent  in  the  lakes  and  ponds  of  the  river  bottoms  (.43). 

In  general  distribution  it  ranges  from  Delaware  to  Georgia 
and  Alabama,  and  from  thence  southwest  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
north  to  the  tributaries  of  the  Missouri  in  the  Dakotas,  and  to 
the  Red  River  of  the  North.  In  this  state  it  is  often  found  in 
deep  and  muddy  waters,  and  less  frequently  than  most  minnows 
in  swift  and  gravelly  streams.  It  is  one  of  the  five  Illinois 
species  found  most  generally  over  a  mud  bottom,  its  frequency 
coefficient  being  1.68.  It  has  the  long  intestine,  the  simple 
pharyngeal  teeth  with  a  well-developed  grinding  surface,  and 
the  few  and  short  gill-rakers  characteristic  of  the  mud-eating 
minnows,  and  its  food  corresponds  to  these  structural  peculiar- 
ities. According  to  our  observations  the  intestine  is  always 
filled  with  fine  mud,  containing  only  filamentous  algae,  diatoms, 
and  other  vegetable  forms  likely  to  be  found  on  a  mud  bottom. 
It  is  frequently  seen  in  large  schools  of  from  fifty  to  one  hundred 
in  deep  and  quiet  water,  always  lying  nearer  the  bottom  than 
the  top,  or  moving  slowly  along  the  bottom  as  it  feeds.  The 
chisel-shaped  lower  jaw  tipped  with  cartilage  is  probably  used 
for  scraping  up  the  mud  and  ooze. 

The  sexual  differences  of  this  species  are  not  striking,  al- 
though the  spring  males  have  the  nuchal  region  somewhat 
swollen,  and  the  top  and  sides  of  the  head  beset  with  very  minute 
tubercles.  Females  greatly  distended  with  eggs  have  been 


116  FISHES   OF  ILLINOIS 

taken  by  us  early  in  June.  This  minnow  is  not  hardy,  and  is 
consequently  an  undersirable  live  bait.  It  is  said  by  Dr.  Bean 
to  be  much  used  for  food. 

HYBOGNATHUS  NUBILA  (FOEBES) 

(MAP  XXVI) 

Forbes,  1878,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.  2,  56   (Alburnops). 
J.  &  G.,  167  (Cliola);  M.  V.,  53;  J.  &  E.,  I,  215;  F.,  79;   L,.,  14. 

Length  2  to  2*/£  inches;  form  much  as  in  the  last,  the  body  subfusiform, 
moderately  compressed,  and  evenly  tapered  in  both  directions  from  the 
rather  deep  middle-body  region;  depth  4  to  4.5  in  length;  caudal  peduncle 
as  long  as  head  or  a  little  longer;  readily  distinguished  from  H.  nuchalis  by 
smaller  size,  absence  of  a  symphysial  protuberance,  and  by  the  prominent 
dark  lateral  band, which  passes  around  snout.  Color  usually  rather  dusky; 
sides  dull  silvery,  belly  yellow;  a  dark  band  along  the  lateral  line  and  the 
row  of  scales  above,  extending  from  a  faint  caudal  spot  forward  through  the 
eye  and  around  the  snout,  tipping  the  chin;  black  vertebral  line  before  the 
dorsal;  dorsal  scales  thickly  specked  with  black,  those  of  belly  plain;  none 
of  the  scales  distinctly  dark-edged;  fins  plain.  Head  3.5  to  4.8  in  length, 
slender,  conic,  depressed  above,  being  nearly  quadrate  in  transverse  section 
behind  orbits;  interorbital  space  nearly  flat,  2.8  to  3.5;  eye  large,  high, 
nearly  circular,  2.8  to  3.1  in  head;  nose  scarcely  longer  than  eye,  3.5  to  4.5; 
mouth  larger  than  in  the  last  species,  terminal,  oblique,  the  maxillary  3.5 
to  4  in  head,  extending  back  of  posterior  nostril,  and  almost  in  front  of  orbit; 
jaws  about  equal,  the  lower  lacking  the  hard  sharp  edge  and  the  symphysial 
protuberance  found  in  the  last  species;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth 4-4, 
only  slightly  hooked,  with  long  though  narrow  grinding  surfaces;  intestine 
2.8  to  3.5  times  the  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  black.  Dorsal  fin 
with  8  rays,  over  ventrals  and  farther  from  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal;  anal 
rays  8;  pectorals  reaching  %  to  ventrals;  ventrals  short  of  vent  in  females, 
exceeding  it  in  males.  Scales  5  or  6,  36-38,  3  or  4,  of  uniform  size  and  dis- 
tribution on  all  parts  of  body;  lateral  line  complete,  very  slightly  decurved 
anteriorly;  scales  before  dorsal  13  or  14. 

Males  in  breeding  dress  with  head  somewhat  sparsely  studded  with 
small  but  hard  and  sharp  tubercles;  smaller  tubercles  sprinkled  over  scales 
of  predorsal  region.  Tuberculate  males  and  females  distended  with  eggs 
taken  from  the  Kiswaukee  at  Belvidere  on  May  12. 

This  species,  which  was  described  by  the  senior  author 
from  specimens  collected  from  Rock  River,  at  Oregon,  111.,  has 
since  been  taken  only  rarely  in  this  state,  principally  in  the  ex- 
treme northwestern  part.  Our  later  collections  number  2  from 
Jo  Daviess  and  Stephenson  counties,  2  from  the  Kishwaukee  at 
Belvidere,  1  from  Sand  creek,  Warsaw,  and  1  from  the  Ohio  at 
Cairo.  It  seems  to  be  essentially  a  western  species,  occurring 
abundantly  in  the  tributaries  of  the  Missouri  River  in  Missouri, 


PIMEPHALES — FATHEADS  117 

and  in  the  streams  of  the  Ozark  region  in  northern  Arkansas. 
It  is  also  reported  from  the  Northwest  as  far  as  Wyoming. 

GENUS  PIMEPHALES  EAFINESQUE 

FATHEADS 

Body  robust  or  elongate,  little  compressed;  head  short  and  rounded; 
mouth  small,  inferior;  upper  jaw  protractile;  no  barbel;  teeth  4-4,  with 
oblique  grinding  surface,  usually  but  one  of  the  teeth  hooked;  intestinal 
canal  more  than  twice  length  of  body;  peritoneum  black;  dorsal  rays  7  or 
8;  anal  rays  7:  the  first  (rudimentary)  dorsal  ray  in  males  evidently  separated 
by  membrane  from  the  second,  and  not  adnate  to  it  as  usually  in  minnows; 
scales  rather  small,  43  to  47  in  lateral  series;  lateral  line  complete  or  im- 
perfect. Size  small,  2}/£  to  4  inches.  Two  species,  generally  distributed 
throughout  the  United  States  east  of  the  Rockies. 

KEY  RO  THE  SPECIES  OF  PIMEPHALES  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.     Body  short  and  stout,  depth  3  to  4   in  length;    lateral  line  more   or   less   in- 
complete     promelas. 

aa.     Body  moderately  elongate,   depth   4   to   5   in  length;    lateral   line   complete.... 
notatus. 

PIMEPHALES  PROMELAS  RAFINESQUE 

BLACK-HEAD   MINNOW;    FATHEAD 
(PL.,  p.  128;  MAP  XXVII) 

Raflnesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  53. 

G.,  VII,  181;   J.  &  G.,  158;    M.  V.,  55;   J.  &  E.,  I,  217;    N.,  45;    J.,  55;   F.,  79;    F.  F., 
I.  6,  78;  L.,  14. 

Length  2^2  inches;  body  robust,  short,  thick  and  deep,  much  heavier 
forward,  not  notably  compressed;  depth  3.2  to  4  in  length;  caudal  peduncle 
stout,  its  length  about  same  as  head,  its  depth  usually  less  than  2  in  its  length. 
Color  rather  dark  olive,  with  a  tinge  of  coppery  or  purplish  forward;  dorsal 
fin  with  a  dusky  cross-bar  about  the  middle,  faint  in  females  and  young,  but 
appearing  as  a  large  jet-black  blotch  covering  most  of  the  lower  two  thirds 
of  the  fin  in  spring  males;  other  fins  plain  in  females,  in  males  all  more  or  less 
dusky,  pectorals  and  anal  most  so;  spring  males  often  found  in  which  almost 
the  entire  body  is  dusky,  the  head  in  such  instances  being  a  jet-black.* 
Head  3.6  to  4  in  length,  very  broad,  short,  and  blunt,  sometimes  appearing 
almost  globular  in  breeding  males;  width  of  head  usually  great  (see  Cliola 
rigilax),  1.4  to  1.7  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  broad  and  nearly  flat 
(except  in  spring  males,  in  which  it  is  swollen),  2  to  2.5  in  head;  eye  4.1  to 
4.8  in  head;  nose  longer  than  eye,  3  to  3.5  in  head;  mouth  rather  small, 
subterminal  and  quite  oblique  in  females,  in  which  the  tip  of  the  upper  lip 
is  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  upper  margin  of  the  pupil — less  oblique  in  males, 

*  Males  taken  from  Kickapoo  Creek  at  Elmwood  in  June,  1900,  have  the  head  jet-black, 
and  a;ll  the  rest  of  the  body  an  extreme  dusky  with  the  exception  of  a  broad  transverse  bar  of 
lighter  color  just  back  of  and  tipping  the  opercle  and  a  similar  bar  which  passes  around  the  sides 
directly  beneath  the  dorsal  fin. 


118  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

in  which  level  of  upper  lip  is  scarcely  above  that  of  lower  margin  of  orbit; 
maxillary  a  little  longer  than  eye,  reaching  very  little  past  anterior  nostril, 
3.5  to  4.5  in  head;  jaws  about  equal;  isthmus  comparatively  broad,  its  width 
greater  than  diameter  of  eye.  Teeth  4-4  or  4-5;  intestine  2  to  3  times  the 
length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  black.  Dorsal  fin  I,*  8,  low,  placed 
directly  over  ventrals  and  a  little  farther  from  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal; 
longest  dorsal  ray  1.2  to  1.6  in  head,  usually  greater  than  1.4,  anal  rays 
I,*  7;  pectorals  %  to  ventrals,  1.2  to  1.5  in  head;  ventrals  past  front  of  anal 
in  males,  scarcely  reaching  vent  in  females.  Scales  8  or  9,  42-48,  5  or  6, 
much  crowded  in  front  of  dorsal  fin,  before  which  there  are  about  25-30 
rows;  lateral  line  incomplete,  sometimes  almost  wanting;  when  present,  with 
a  noticeable  downward  curve  anteriorly. 

This  species  has  a  general  range  from  the  northeast  to  the 
southwest,  but  is  not  reported  from  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
United  States.  It  occurs  throughout  the  Great  Lake  basin  to 
Lake  Champlain,  throughout  the  Ohio  basin  and  up  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri,  and  thence  northward 
to  the  Red  River  of  the  North  and  the  Saskatchewan,  and 
southwest  to  the  Rio  Grande.  Its  distribution  in  Illinois  is  a 
miniature  copy  of  its  general  range,  being  limited  to  the  northern 
and  western  three  fourths  of  the  state,  leaving  the  southeastern 
part  with  no  representation  of  this  species  in  our  collections. 
It  is,  in  fact,  one  of  the  fishes  already  frequently  mentioned, 
which  are  practically  limited  to  the  Mississippi  drainage  in  this 
state,  and  occurs  in  our  collections  from  the  tributaries  of  the 
Ohio  only  from  one  group  of  four  localities  on  the  headwaters  of 
the  Embarras  where  these  approach  most  closely  to  the  upper 
tributaries  of  the  Kaskaskia.  Notwithstanding  the  general 
exclusion  of  a  large  part  of  southern  Illinois  from  its  range,  it 
enters  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation  in  the  branches  of  the 
Kaskaskia.  It  frequents  muddy  waters  freely,  occurring  there, 
indeed,  in  disproportionate  frequency,  our  ninety-five  collections 
of  the  species  giving  us  a  frequency  coefficient  of  2.08.  Like 
most  of  our  minnows,  it  is  relatively  more  abundant  in  creeks 
than  in  other  waters  (coefficient  2.68)  and,  next  to  these,  in  the 
smaller  rivers  (1.82).  It  is  fairly  well  represented,  however,  in 
rivers  of  the  first  class  (.85),  and  occurs  not  infrequently  in  low- 
land lakes  and  ponds  (.23).  It  has  not-  been  taken  by  us  from 
our  northeastern  lakes  of  glacial  orgin  nor  from  Lake  Michigan 
or  from  the  drainage  of  its  basin. 

We  have  found  it  commonest  in  the  short  muddy  creeks  con- 
nected with  the  larger  rivers,  and  especially  abundant  in  the 

*  See  key  to  genera  of  Cyprinidce. 


PIMEPHALES — FATHEADS  119 

muddy  parts  of  a  short  stream  near  Warsaw,  in  Hamilton  county, 
running  down  from  the  bluffs  to  the  Mississippi  River,  where  it 
was  associated  with  Cliola  vigilax,  a  species  of  somewhat  similar 
distribution. 

Its  tolerance  of  muddy  waters  is  shown  by  our  frequency 
coefficient  of  2.08  for  those  with  a  mud  bottom;  and  we  have 
found  it  with  less  than  the  average  preference  of  minnows  for  a 
rapidly  moving  stream  (coefficient,  .73;  still  water,  1.37). 

It  belongs  to  the  mud-eating  group  of  minnows,  and  its 
alimentary  structures  correspond  to  this  fact,  the  intestine  being 
from  two  to  three  times  the  length  of  the  head  and  body,  and  the 
pharyngeal  teeth  not  hooked  but  with  well-developed  grinding 
surface.  Our  only  knowledge  of  its  food  is  derived  from  a  study 
of  four  specimens  from  muddy  streams  in  northern  and  central 
Illinois.  The  intestines  of  these  were  largely  filled  with  mud 
containing  some  algse  and  a  considerable  number  of  insects, 
partly  of  terrestrial  species  and  partly  aquatic  larvae  of  Diptera. 

Females  greatly  distended  with  eggs,  and  males  in  full 
breeding  color,  have  been  taken  by  our  collectors  in  May  and 
June.  The  snout  of  the  breeding  male  bears  three  rows  of  very 
large  tubercles,  one  on  a  level  with  the  nostrils  and  the  others 
between  this  and  the  upper  lip.  Dr  Kirtland  reports  that  these 
fishes  make  shallow  excavations  in  the  breeding  season  under 
stones  and  the  ends  of  logs  in  still  water,  and  that,  after  deposit- 
ing their  eggs,  they  defend  them  bravely  against  all  intruders. 
The  species  is  not  a  good  live  bait,  although  often  sold  as  such. 

PIMEPHALES  NOTATUS  (BAFINESQUE) 

BLUNT-NOSED    MINNOW 
(MAP  XXVIII) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  47  (Minnilus). 

G.,  VII,  182  (Hyborhynchus);  J.  &  G.,  159  (Hyborhynchus);  M.  V.,  54;  J.  &  E.,  I, 
218;  N.,  45  (Hyborhynchus);  J.,  55  (Hyborhynchus);  F.  F.,  I.  6,  79  (Hyborhyn- 
chus); F.,  78;  L.,  14. 

Length  2  to  3^  inches;  body  elongate,  little  compressed,  the  back 
broad  and  rather  flat;  depth  4.3  to  4.8  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  rather 
slender,  longer  than  head,  its  depth  2.1  to  2.6  in  its  length,  as  a  rule  greater 
than  2.3.  Color  pale  olivaceous  above,  all  the  scales  of  upper  part  of  body 
with  dark  edgings  prominent;  sides  a  dull  silvery  bluish,  under  which  is  a 
plumbeous  lateral  stripe,  extending  across  opercle  and  through  eye  to  end 
of  snout:  no  dark  vertebral  streak;  a  prominent  dark  spot  at  base  of  caudal; 
belly  whitish;  dorsal  fin  with  a  dark  blotch  in  front  on  first  3  rays,  a  little  less 
than  half  way  up  from  base  of  fin;  other  fins  plain,  except  for  faint  dusky 


120  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

lines  crossing  dorsal  and  caudal;  breeding  males  with  the  head  jet-black, 
except  for  a  light  transverse  bar  at  back  of  opercle,  the  dorsal  blotch  enlarged 
and  extending  as  a  broad  bar  from  front  to  back  of  fin;  other  fins  and  entire 
body  more  or  less  dusky.  Head  4  to  4.4  in  length,  small,  but  rather  broad 
and  flat  above;  the  muzzle  very  blunt;  width  of  head  1.6  1.8  in  its  length; 
interorbital  space  2.2  to  2.5;  eye  3.5  to  4.4  in  head;  nose  3.1  to  3.4,  longer 
than  eye;  mouth  small,  inferior,  nearly  or  wholly  horizontal,  the  tip  of  the 
upper  lip  below  level  of  lower  margin  of  orbit;  maxillary  scarcely  longer 
than  eye,  3.8  to  4.3  in  head,  reaching  to  posterior  nostril;  lower  jaw  included; 
isthmus  not  quite  so  broad  as  in  the  last  species,  its  width  about  ]/io  diameter 
of  orbit.  Teeth  4-4;  intestine  about  twice  the  length  of  head  and  body; 
peritoneum  black.  Dorsal  fin  1-8  (rarely  1-7),  placed  a  little  behind  ventrals 
and  about  equidistant  between  front  of  eye  and  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal 
ray  1.4  to  1.7  in  head;  anal  rays  7;  pectorals  short,  reaching  little  more  than 
half  way  to  ventrals,  no  difference  in  this  respect  being  noticeable  between 
males  and  females;  ventrals  in  both  males  and  females  falling  short  of  vent. 
Scales  6  or  7,  41  to  44,  4,  rather  crowded  before  dorsal,  but  not  so  much  so  as 
in  the  last  species,  rows  before  dorsal  about  23;  lateral  line  usually  complete, 
with  a  slight  downward  curve  in  front  of  ventrals. 


FIG.  24 

This  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  and  widely  distributed 
minnow  in  Illinois.  It  appeared  in  377  of  our  collections,  and  is 
abundant  in  all  of  our  river  basins,  in  the  glacial  lakes  of  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  state,  and  in  the  streams  of  the  Lake 
basin.  Generally  speaking,  it  ranges  from  Winnipeg  and  Lake 
Champlain  through  the  Great  Lake  basin  and  the  north  Atlantic 
region  as  far  as  New  Jersey,  and  down  the  Mississippi  Valley 
to  the  Alabama  and  the  Rio  Colorado  of  Texas.  It  passes 
freely  into  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  occurs  abundantly  in 
small  streams  along  the  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi,  and  seems  to 
find  a  satisfactory  place  of  residence  in  streams  of  any  size  or 
lakes  or  ponds  of  any  description.  It  is  most  abundant  in 
creeks  (coefficient,  2.57),  and  scarcely  less  so  in  the  smaller 
rivers  (2.03),  but  is  rather  rare  in  the  larger  rivers,  from  which 
it  has  been  taken  by  us  but  23  times  in  293  collections. 

It  is  one  of  the  mud-eating  group,  the  alimentary  canal  being 
commonly  packed  from  end  to  end  with  mud  containing  fila- 


SEMOTILUS — PALLFISHES  121 

mentous  algse  and  miscellaneous  vegetable  debris.  Occasionally 
fragments  of  insects  or  a  specimen  of  the  mud-loving  Ento- 
mostraca  may  be  found  in  the  general  mixture,  and  individual 
specimens  have  been  reported  to  eat  decayed  fish  in  the 
aquarium. 

Its  spawning  season,  if  we  may  judge  from  our  collections,  is 
from  May  15  to  June  15  in  central  Illinois.  Dr.  Eigenmann  re- 
ports that  the  eggs  are  sometimes  laid  on  the  under  surface  of 
various  objects  submerged  in  shallow  water.  He  found  them 
throughout  June  and  a  part  of  July,  one  of  the  parents  being, 
as  a  rule,  on  guard  about  the  nest.  The  snout  of  the  male  in 
the  breeding  season  bears  three  rows  of  large  tubercles,  seven  in 
one  row  at  the  margin  of  the  upper  lip,  five  in  a  row  directly 
above  this,  and  four  in  an  upper  row,  two  of  them  between  the 
nostrils  and  one  on  each  side  between  the  nostril  and  the  eye. 

GENUS  SEMOTILUS  EAFINESQUE 

FALLFISHES 

Body  robust;  mouth  terminal;  upper  jaw  protractile;  a  small  barbel 
on  the  upper  side  of  the  maxillary  just  in  front  of  its  extremity  (not  at  its 
tip  as  in  most  American  minnows) ;  teeth  2,  5-4, 2,  hooked,  without  grinding 
surface;  intestine  short;  peritoneum  pale;  dorsal  rays  7  or  8;  anal  rays  8; 
scales  45  to  60  in  lateral  series;  lateral  line  continuous.  Size  large,  6  to  18 
inches.  Two  species,  S.  oJromaculatus  being  found  from  Maine  to  Wyoming, 
and  S.  corporalis,  the  large  chub  or  fallfish  of  the  Eastern  creeks,  being 
confined  to  the  east  of  the  Alleghanies. 


FIG.  25 

SEMOTILUS  ATROMACULATUS  (MITCHILL) 
HORNED  DACE;  CREEK  CHUB 

(MAP  XXIX) 

Mitchill,  1818,  Am.  Month.  Mag.,  II,  324   (Cyprinus). 

G.,  VII.,  269  (Leucosomus  corporalis);   J.  &  G.,  221  (corporalis);   M.  V.,  66;    J.  &  E., 

I,   222;    N.,  45   (corporalis);    J.,   62    (corporalis);    F.,   75    (corporalis) ;    F.  F.,  I.   «, 

88  (corporalis);   L.,  15. 


122  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Length  usually  6  to  8  inches,  sometimes  reaching  a  length  of  a  foot; 
body  rather  elongate,  but  robust,  heavy  forward,  the  back  gently  arched 
in  front  of  the  dorsal  fin;  depth  4.1  to  4.6  in  length,  caudal  peduncle  shorter 
than  head,  its  depth  2  to  2.5  in  its  length.  Color  dusky  bluish-olive  above; 
tinges  of  light  purplish  on  sides  as  far  down  as  lateral  line;  a  faint  plumbeous 
lateral  band,  somewhat  more  distinct  towards  end  of  caudal  peduncle;  a 
faint  vertebral  streak  and  a  dark  bar  behind  opercle;  sides  below  lateral  line 
greenish  gray  to  silvery;  belly  silvery;  dorsal  fin  with  a  distinct  black  blotch 
at  base,  between  first  and  third  rays;  in  breeding  males  there  is  sometimes  a 
broad  but  indistinct  transverse  bar  of  dusky  color  crossing  the  fin  about 
midway;  other  fins  plain,  or,  at  most,  with  slight  traces  of  dusky  in  spring 
males.  Head  large,  everywhere  convex,  broadly  rounded  above,  3.5  to  3.9 
in  length;  width  of  head  1.6  to  1.8  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  2.4  to  2.7; 
eye  4.8  to  7.1  in  head,  usually  more  than  6  in  adults;  nose  long,  broadly  and 
bluntly  rounded,  2.7  to  3.3  in  head;  mouth  very  large,  terminal,  oblique,  tip 
of  upper  lip  at  level  of  lower  margin  of  pupil;  maxillary  about  2^  times  eye, 
reaching  beyond  anterior  margin  of  orbit;  jaws  about  equal;  isthmus  less 


FIG.  26 

Left  branchial  cavity  of  SemotUus  atromaculatus,  with  opercle  removed 
to  show  left  pharyngeal  arch  in  situ;  also  pharyngeal  jaws  removed 
and  viewed  from  front. 

than  eye.  Teeth  extremely  variable,— 4,1-0,4,  4,1-0,5,  4,2-1,5,  4,2-2,5, 
5,2-1,5,  4,2-2,4,  in  nine  specimens  examined  by  us;  intestine  .9  to  1.1  times 
length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  pale,  a  very  little  dusky  forward. 
Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  situated  behind  ventrals,  equidistant  between  front 
of  eye  and  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.6  to  1.8  in  head;  anal  rays 
8;  pectorals  short,  reaching  ^  to  %  to  ventrals,  1.5  to  1.9  in  head;  ventrals 
short  of  vent  in  adults.  Scales  10  or  11,  rarely  9,  55  to  69,  5  to  7,  consider- 
ably crowded  in  predorsal  and  scapular  regions,  about  35  rows  before  dorsal 
fin;  lateral  line  complete,  with  a  strong  downward  curve  in  front  of  ventrals. 

This  is  essentially  a  creek  species,  our  frequency  coefficient 
for  creeks  being  3.77,  and  for  the  smaller  rivers  1.67.  In  lakes 
and  ponds  we  have  taken  it  but  5  times  in  591  collections,  and 
in  the  larger  rivers  but  5  times  in  293  collections.  Its  preference 
for  creeks  is  also  reported  by  R.  C.  Osburn,  who  says  that  in 
seining  up  stream  an  increase  in  its  numbers  is  very  noticeable 


SEMOTILUS — FALLFISHES  123 

as  the  headwaters  are  approached.  Within  these  limits  its 
distribution  in  Illinois  has  been  quite  general,  including  all  our 
hydrographic  divisions  except  the  Michigan  drainage  and  show- 
ing no  marked  preponderance  in  any.  Outside  this  state  it 
ranges  far  and  wide  throughout  the  central  and  western  United 
States,  excepting,  however,  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  extreme 
southern  and  southwestern  part  of  our  area.  From  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  its  tributaries  in  Canada,  and  from  New  Bruns- 
wick, Maine,  and  Vermont,  it  is  found  westward  and  south- 
ward through  the  Hudson  valley  to  the  Potomac  and  the 
Roanoke,  through  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi  valleys  to  the 
Alabama  River,  and  northwestward  to  Wyoming. 

It  is  an  active  swimmer  and  exceedingly  voracious,  and  with 
an  unusually  varied  diet  for  a  minnow,  including  considerable 
quantities  of  vegetable  food  on  the  one  hand,  and  small  fishes  on 
the  other.  A  fourth  of  the  food  of  twenty-two  specimens  con- 
sisted of  algae  and  of  miscellaneous  vegetable  debris.  Four  of 
these  specimens  had  eaten  little  else  than  filamentous  algae, 
and  three  had  captured  small  fishes.  Grasshoppers,  caterpillars, 
ants,  chrysomelid  and  scarabseid  beetles  and  various  other 
terrestrial  insects,  together  with  Corisa,  dipterous  larvae,  and 
other  aquatic  forms,  were  the  insects  represented,  and  three  of 
our  twenty-two  specimens  had  eaten  only  crawfishes. 

This  species  is  reported  by  Jordan  to  reach  a  length  of  a 
foot,  and  to  be  an  excellent  bait,  when  df  the  proper  size,  for 
bass,  wall-eyed  pike,  and  pickerel.  With  the  possible  exception 
of  Hybopsis  kentuckiensis,  it  is  decidedly  our  gamiest  minnow. 
It  is  always  ready  to  bite  at  a  grasshopper,  and  will  even  rise 
to  the  fly.  It  thrives  in  the  aquarium,  and  with  good  treat- 
ment soon  becomes  so  tame  as  to  feed  from  the  hand*. 

Males  in  full  breeding  dress  have  been  taken  in  our  May 
collections.  There  are,  in  spring  males,  two  large  tubercles  on 
each  side  of  the  upper  lip  just  below  the  nostrils,  a  row  of  four 
other  large  ones  on  each  side  of  the  eye,  a  cluster  of  minute 
tubercles  on  the  lower  part  of  each  opercle,  and  a  row  on  the 
margin  of  most  of  the  scales  on  the  upper  part  of  the  caudal 
peduncle.  Reighard  has  seen  a  male  of  this  species  preparing 
a  nest  by  excavating  the  sand  and  gravel  in  advance  of  spawn- 
ing, but  this  is  abandoned  after  the  eggs  have  been  laid. 

*  The  eastern  chub  (Semotilus  corporalis)  does  not  occur  west  of  the  Alleghanies.  It  is 
said  by  Atkins  to  spawn  in  May.  It  builds  great  heaps  of  gravel  in  running  water,  but  avoids 
eddies  and  ripples  when  spawning.  The  males  build  the  nest,  carrying  pebbles  in  their  mouths. 


124  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

GENUS  OPSOPCEODUS  HAY 

Body  fusiform,  somewhat  compressed;  mouth  extremely  small,  terminal; 
upper  jaw  protractile;  no  barbels;  teeth  5-5 or  4-5,  with  edges  serrated  and 
no  grinding  surface,  the  tips  hooked;  intestine  short;  peritoneum  white; 
dorsal  rays  7  to  10;  anal  rays  7  or  8:  scales  37  to  42;  lateral  line  complete  or 
imperfect.  Size  very  small,  2J^  inches.  Species  3  or  4;  confined  to  the 
Mississippi  Valley  and  the  eastern  United  States. 


FIG.  27 
OPSOPCEODUS  EMILI/E  HAY 

(MAP  XXX) 

Hay,  1880,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  507. 

Forbes  in  J.  &  G.,  247  (Trycherodon  megalops);  M.  V.,  68;  J.  &  E.,  I,  248  (megalops); 
P.,  74;  L.,  15  (emiliae  and  megalops). 

The  very  small  and  upturned  mouth,  the  black  spot  on  the  posterior 
rays  of  the  dorsal  fin,  and  the  incomplete  lateral  line  of  this  species  serve  to 
distinguish  it  readily  from  all  other  minnows  found  in  our  range.  Length 
usually  less  than  2}/£  inches;  body  moderately  elongate,  compressed,  the 
back  perceptibly  elevated,  the  profile  a  more  or  less  even  incline  from  a  point 
over  the  tips  of  the  reflexed  pectorals;  depth  4.1  to  4.8  in  length;  caudal 
peduncle  slender,  longer  than  head,  its  depth  2.2  to  3.2  in  its  length,  not 
usually,  however,  over  2.5.  Color  light  olive,  yellowish,  the  scales  except 
on  and  very  near  belly  conspicuously  dark-edged;*  a  narrow  dark  lateral 
band,  extending  forward  across  opercle  and  through  eye  to  end  of  snout, 
becoming  faint  anteriorly;  no  distinct  caudal  spot,  but  sometimes,  in  highly 
colored  males,  an  indistinct  vertical  bar  at  base  of  caudal;  fins  of  females 
plain,  or,  at  most,  the  dorsal  with  faint  traces  of  dusky  on  anterior  third; 
breeding  males  with  the  snout  and  chin  thickly  studded  with  minute  tubercles, 
and  with  a  large  blotch  of  dusky  covering  almost  entire  dorsal  fin  except  a 
patch  at  base  and  another  at  tip  of  fin;  a  second  blotch  of  dusky  at  back  of 
fin  in  some  males,  situated  about  half  way  up  from  base  and  crossing  last 
three  rays;  other  fins  plain.  Head  small,  4.2  to  4.5  in  length;  width  of  head 

*  No  other  species  of  Cyprinidae  found  in  this  state  has  the  cross-hatching  more  distinct  or 
extending  farther  below  the  lateral  line,  typical  specimens  having  almost  the  entire  body  so 
marked. 


ABRAMIS BKEAMS  125 

1.7  to  1.9  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  little  convex,  2.3  to  2.6  in  head; 
eye  3.1  to  3.7,  a  little  longer  than  the  snout,  but  less  than  the  interorbital 
space;  nose  short  and  blunt,  3.2  to  3.8  in  head,  the  extremely  oblique  mouth 
giving  it  a  turned-up  or  "snubbed"  appearance;  mouth  extremely  small 
and  very  oblique,  making  an  angle  of  less  than  30°  with  the  vertical;  maxil- 
lary 3.7  to  4.6  in  head,  shorter  than  the  eye  and  scarcely  reaching  anterior 
nostril;  upper  lip  almost  or  quite  on  a  level  with  upper  margin  of  pupil; 
jaws  about  equal;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  5-5  or  4-5,  very  slender, 
strongly  hooked,  and  sharply  and  irregularly  crenate;  intestine  about  .9  of 
length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  very  lightly  specked  with  dusky. 
Dorsal  fin  with  8  or  9  rays,  inserted  a  little  behind  front  of  ventrals,  but  nearer 
muzzle  than  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1  to  1.3  in  head;  anal  rays  8; 
pectorals  %,  or  more,  to  ventrals;  ventrals  to  or  slightly  past  vent.  Scales 
6,  38-40,  4;  lateral  line  variously  imperfect,  sometimes  present  only  on  the 
first  4  or  5  scales,  sometimes  extending,  with  numerous  interruptions,  to 
the  middle  of  the  caudal  peduncle;  slightly  decurved  anteriorly;  15-18  scales 
before  dorsal. 

This  is  a  southern  species  in  general  range,  distributed  from 
Ohio  through  Indiana  and  Illinois  to  Georgia,  Arkansas,  and 
Oklahoma,  and  in  our  collections  is  relatively  much  the  most 
abundant  from  southern  Illinois.  Northward  it  has  been  taken 
almost  wholly  along  the  larger  rivers — the  Illinois,  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  the  Rock.  It  is  mainly  a  species  of  creeks  and  ponds 
with  us,  however,  although  more  than  usually  abundant  from  the 
larger  rivers  also.  Females  greatly  distended  with  eggs,  and 
tuberculate  males  in  high  spring  color,  have  been  taken  by  us 
about  Meredosia  between  the  10th  and  the  20th  of  June. 


GENUS  ABRAMIS  CUTIEE 

BREAMS 

Body  deep  and  strongly  compressed;  belly  before  ventrals  forming  a 
keel  over  which  the  scales  do  not  pass;  mouth  oblique  or  horizontal;  pre- 
maxillary  protractile;  no  barbels;  teeth  5-5,  hooked  and  with  grinding  surface; 
alimentary  canal  short;  peritoneum  (in  American  species)  pale;  dorsal  rays 
8  to  10;  anal  typically  long,  with  20  to  40  rays  in  the  European  species; 
American  forms  with  anal  shorter,  the  rays  9  to  18;  scales  39  to  55;  lateral 
line  developed.  Size  rather  large,*  the  American  bream  reaching  a  length 
of  12  inches.  Species  numerous,  inhabiting  both  Europe  and  North  America; 
American  forms  1  (or  2) ;  distributed  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Texas. 

*  The  common  bream  of  Europe  (Abramis  brama)  has  been  known  to  attain  a  weight  of 
12  Ib  in  some  of  the  Irish  lakes. 


126  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

ABRAMIS  CRYSOLEUCAS  (MITCHILL) 

GOLDEN  SHINER;  ROACH;  BREAM 

(MAP  xxxi) 

Mitchill,  1814,  Rep.  Fish.  N.  Y.,  23  (Cyprinus). 

G.,  VII,  305  (americanus),  306  (leptosomus) ;  J.  &  G.,  249  (Notemigonus  leptosomus), 
250  (N.  chrysoleucus);  M.  V.,- 68  (Notemigonus);  J.  &  E.,  I,  250;  N.,  48  (Note- 
migonus americanus);  J.,  61  (Notemigonus);  F.  F.,  I.  6,  81  (Notemigonus 
chrysoleucus);  F.,  74  (Notemigonus);  L.,  15. 

The  small,  pointed  head,  greatly  compressed  form,  strongly  decurved 
lateral  line,  and  the  sharp  keel  on  the  belly  behind  the  ventral  fins,  will  as  a 
rule  distinguish  this  species  with  readiness  from  all  other  Illinois  species  of 
its  family.  Length  6  to  8  inches;  body  moderately  elongate  in  the  young, 
in  adults  becoming  very  deep  and  strongly  compressed,  the  thickness  in  the 
predorsal  region  contained  sometimes  nearly  three  times  in  the  greatest 
depth  in  fully  adult  specimens;  depth  3  to  3.6  in  length;  caudal  peduncle 
short,  its  greatest  depth  1.4  to  1.7  in  its  length.  Color  a  clear  dark  greenish 
olive  above,  becoming  steel-blue  in  some  lights;  sides  silvery,  with  bright 
golden  reflections;  a  half-diamond-shaped  or  triangular  spot  of  dark  color 
more  or  less  evident  at  base  of  exposed  portion  of  each  scale;  dorsal  and  anal 
fins  tipped  with  dusky;  lower  fins  yellow,  the  ventrals  bright  orange  at  tips 
in  breeding  individuals  of  boths  sexes;  young  with  a  faint  vertebral  streak 
and  a  distinct  dark  band  along  sides.  Head  small,  subconic,  flattened  on 
the  sides,  4  to  4.5  in  length;  width  of  head  1.7  to  1.9  in  its  length;  interorbital 
space,  2.4  to  2.7  in  head,  markedly  convex;  eye  3.4  to  4.4  in  head,  within  the 
anterior  half  of  the  head,  and  rather  low,  about  as  near  chin  as  crown;  nose 
sharply  pointed,  appreciably  longer  than  eye,  3.2  to  3.8  in  head;  mouth 
rather  small,  terminal,  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  even  with  top  of  pupil;  maxil- 
lary not  reaching  past  anterior  nostril;  3.5  to  3.9  in  head;  jaws  about  equal; 
isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  5-5  to  4-4,  constricted  at  base  and  sometimes 
slightly  hooked;  intestine  from  1  to  1.8  times  length  of  head  and  body;  peri- 
toneum lightly  specked  with  dusky.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  set  distinctly 
behind  ventrals,  its  first  ray  about  equidistant  between  upper  corner  of 
gill-opening  and  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1  to  1.3  in  head;  anal  rays 
11  to  14;  pectorals  1.1  to  1.3  in  head,  reaching  about  %  to  ventrals;  ventrals 
falling  short  of  vent  in  adults.  Scales  9  to  1 1,  45  to  52, 3 ;  lateral  line  complete, 
broadly  and  deeply  decurved,  and  often  flexuose  from  back  of  opercle  to  a 
point  about  midway  of  caudal  peduncle,  its  distance  from  the  back  in  the 
middle  of  the  body  2^  times  the  interval  below. 

This  extremely  abundant  species  occurs  from  New  Bruns- 
wick and  the  Province  of  Quebec  southward  to  St.  Johns  River 
and  the  lakes  of  Orange  county,  Florida,  westward  to  the 
branches  of  the  Missouri  in  the  Dakotas,  and  southwest  to  the 
Nueces  River  in  Texas.  It  is  not  reported  from  the  Great  Lakes. 
Professor  Hay  says  that  it  prefers  slow  streams  and  grassy  ponds, 
and  is  sometimes  found  in  large  numbers  in  the  muddiest  and 
most  uninviting  holes.  In  Ohio,  Osburn  found  it  chiefly  in 
ponds,  quiet  pools,  and  weedy  bayous.  According  to  Dr.  Bean, 


A  Bit  AMIS BREAMS  127 

it  is  one  of  the  commonest  fishes  of  Pennsylvania,  frequenting 
sluggish  waters  and  abounding  in  bayous  and  weedy  ponds 
where  it  grows  to  a  length  of  a  foot  and  a  weight  of  a  pound 
and  a  half.  According  to  Dr.  Jordan,  "it  is  especially  character- 
istic of  sluggish  waters  in  either  lake,  pond,  or  bayou.  In  Ohio 
it  is  extremely  abundant,  in  the  weedy  bayous  most  of  all. 
The  yellow  pond-lily  is  its  favorite  shelter. " 

It  has  been  taken  by  us  in  303  collections,  more  frequently 
than  any  other  fish  except  the  blunt-nosed  mumow(Pimephales 
notatus),  which  has  appeared  in  377.  The  most  notable  pecu- 
liarities of  its  local  and  ecological  distribution  in  Illinois  are  its 
frequency  in  lowland  lakes  and  ponds  (coefficient,  1.36),  and 
over  a  muddy  bottom  (3.79).  Our  map  of  the  distribution  of 
the  Illinois  collections  of  this  species  shows  that,  although  it  is 
widely  distributed  throughout  the  state,  occurring  in  many 
localities  in  each  of  our  stream  systems,  there  is  a  notable  differ- 
ence in  the  size  of  the  streams  which  it  chiefly  inhabits  in  the 
southern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  state,  where  it  is  essentially  a 
creek  species,  and  in  the  remainder  of  the  state,  where  it  has  been 
taken  chiefly  along  our  larger  rivers.  It  is  also  very  much  more 
abundant  in  the  Wabash  basin,  the  Big  Muddy,  and  the  tribu- 
taries of  the  Ohio  than  in  any  other  part  of  Illinois,  appearing 
there  three  and  four  times  as  frequently  to  the  hundred  collec- 
tions as  in  the  Illinois  valley  or  the  streams  of  northwestern 
Illinois. 

It  has  a  more  efficient  equipment  of  alimentary  structures 
than  any  other  of  our  common  minnows,  and  a  correspondingly 
wide  range  of  food  resources.  Its  intestine  is  rather  long — one 
and  a  third  times  the  length  of  the  head  and  body  together;  the 
gill-rakers  are  long,  fine,  and  numerous;  and  the  pharyngeal 
teeth  are  provided  both  with  terminal  hooks  and  grinding  sur- 
faces. We  find  its  food  varying,  consequently,  according  to 
situation,  from  a  mere  mass  of  mud,  to  mollusks,  insects, 
Entomostraca,  and  vegetable  substances.  Where  mollusks  are 
abundant,  it  sometimes  feeds  on  nothing  else;  and  in  ponds 
containing  many  minute  Crustacea,  these  may  be  its  sole  food 
One  specimen  taken  from  Nippersink  Lake,  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  state,  had  filled  itself  with  wild  rice.  Insects,  mainly 
terrestrial,  were  also  eaten  by  several,  and  some  of  the  specimens 
studied,  had  devoured  quantities  of  algae. 

The  golden  shiner  is  said  to  be  an  excellent  pan-fish,  if  of 
sufficient  size.  It  is  active  all  winter,  and  can  be  taken  through 


128  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

the  ice.     It  lives  well  in  the  aquarium,  and  makes  a  good  bait 
for  black  bass. 

Spawning  females,  with  eggs  running  from  the  vent,  have 
been  taken  by  us  from  the  first  to  the  last  of  May,  and  occasional 
specimens  were  found  full  of  eggs  as  late  as  July  30.  The  eggs 
are  extremely  adhesive,  and  contain  no  oil  globule.  The  males 
average  smaller  in  size  than  the  females,  and  have  the  back 
sonewhat  more  swollen  at  the  nape.  Their  sides  are  rough  with 
minute  tubercles,  but  the  head  and  snout  are  not  tuberculate. 

GENUS  CLIOLA  GIRARD 

Fishes  with  the  form  and  appearance  of  Pimephales,  but  with  the  ali- 
mentary canal  shorter  than  the  body,  the  peritoneum  pale,  and  the  teeth 
more  hooked — allying  them  rather  with  Notropis;  mouth  inferior;  premaxillary 
protractile ;  teeth  4-4;  dorsal  rays  8,  the  anterior  ray  club-shaped  and  separated 
from  the  second  by  membrane,  as  in  Pimephales;  anal  rays  7;  scales  42  to 
48;  lateral  line  developed.  Size  small,  2}^  to  3  inches.  Two  species  known; 
central  and  southwestern  United  States. 


x- 


FIG.  28 
CLIOLA  VIGILAX  (BAIRD  &  GIRARD) 

BULLHEAD   MINNOW;    FATHEAD 

(MAP  XXXII) 

Baird  &  Girard,  1853,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  391  (Ceratichthys). 
G.,  VII,   259    (Leuciscus   tuditanus);    J.    &    G.,    165    (tuditana),    166    (taurocephala), 
169;  M.  V.,  54;  J.  &  E.,  I,  253;   J.,  56  (Alburnops  tuditanus);   F.,  78;    L,.,  15. 

Length  2  to  3  inches;  body  stout,  only  moderately  elongate,  not  much 
compressed,  the  thickness  of  the  body  in  the  predorsal  region  contained 
about  1^  times  in  its  depth;  depth  4.1  to  4.5  in  length;  caudal  peduncle 
stout,  shorter  than  head,  its  depth  1.5  to  2.2  in  its  length.  Color  dusky 
olive  or  yellowish  above;  sides  silvery,  with  but  a  faint  suggestion  of  a  dark 
lateral  band;  a  small  jet-black  caudal  spot,  and  a  prominent  black  spot  on 
the  anterior  3  or  4  rays  of  the  dorsal  fin  about  half  way  up;  spring  males 
with  head  leaden  to  blackish,  and  entire  body  more  or  less  dusky.  Head  3.7 


BLACK-HEAD  MINNOW,  Pimephales  proinelas  Rafinesque 


BULLHEAD  MINNOW  (Male),  Cliola  vigilax  (Baird  &  Girard) 


/, 


BULLHEAD  MINNOW  (Female),  Cliola  vigilax  (Baird  &  Girard) 


Xotropis  cayuga  Meek 


CLIO  LA  129 

to  4.1  in  length,  broad  and  flat  above  and  little  tapered  forward,  the  muzzle 
very  blunt;  width  of  head  1.5  to  1.7  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  2.3  to 
2.8,  nearly  flat;  eye  small,  circular,  entirely  within  upper  half  of  head,  3.2 
to  4;  nose  longer  than  eye,  2.9  to  3.3  in  head;  mouth  rather  small,  terminal, 
oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  about  on  a  level  with  inferior  margin  of  orbit;  maxil- 
lary 2.9  to  3.6  in  head,  not  reaching  orbit;  jaws  equal;  isthmus  about  half 
diameter  of  eye.  Teeth  4-4,  with  grinding  surface  and  slight  hook;  intestine 
about  equal  to  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  silvery  with  a  few  small 
and  scattering  dark  specks.  Dorsal  fin  low,  its  longest  ray  1.4  to  1.9  in  head, 
usually  less  than  the  head's  width;  dorsal  rays  1-8,  the  first  little  more  than 
half  the  length  of  the  second,  thickly  covered  with  flesh  in  spring  males; 
insertion  of  dorsal  nearly  directly  over  ventrals  and  about  equidistant  between 
snout  and  base  of  caudal;  anal  rays  7;  pectorals  reaching  little  more  than 
%  to  ventrals;  ventrals  in  both  males  and  females  usually  reaching  to  vent, 
but  always  falling  short  of  anal.  Scales  6  to  8,  39  to  44,  4  or  5,  usually  7-4 
above  and  below;  21  to  27  rows  before  dorsal;  lateral  line  complete,  but 
slightly  decurved  in  front  of  ventrals. 

This  fish,  though  often  confounded  with  Pimephales  notatus, 
differs  sharply  from  it  in  its  more  oblique  mouth  and  in  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  dark  punctulations  on  the  scales,  the  entire  sur- 
face of  the  scales  of  the  upper  half  of  the  body  being  more  or  less 
dusted  with  dark  specks  in  Cliola,  while  in  P.  notatus  the  scales 
are  very  distinctly  dark-edged.  It  will  scarcely  be  confused  with 
P.  promelas,  which  has  the  mouth  smaller  and  lips  (except  in 
males)  thinner,  and  the  lateral  line  to  a  greater  or  less  degree 
imperfect.  If  at  any  time  external  differences  fail,  it  may  be 
separated  with  ease  from  either  species  by  its  generic  characters. 

This  little  species,  although  one  of  our  minor  minnows,  only 
two  or  three  inches  long,  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  in  the  larger 
rivers  of  the  state— the  fifth  on  our  list  in  order  of  frequency  in 
rivers  of  the  first  class.  This  feature  of  its  distribution  is  deriv- 
able also  from  our  map  of  the  state  showing  the  distribution  of 
the  116  localities  from  which  our  194  collections  of  the  species 
have  been  made.  It  occurs  with  still  greater  frequency  in  the 
smaller  rivers  and  the  creeks,  more  abundantly  in  the  former, 
however,  than  in  the  latter.  From  lakes  and  ponds  it  has  been 
taken  by  us  only  28  times  in  591  collections.  Its  preference  for 
a  rapid  current  (coefficient,  2.46)  and  a  clean  bottom  (2.04)  is  also 
especially  pronounced.  Professor  Hay  likewise  reports,  in  his 
list  of  the  lampreys  and  fishes  of  Indiana,  that  this  species 
appears  to  prefer  clear  streams.  It  is  generally  distributed  from 
Ohio  to  Georgia,  the  Dakotas,  Iowa,  Arkansas  and  Texas,  and 
the  Rio  Grande.  It  has  occurred  to  us  much  the  most  abun- 
dantly in  the  streams  of  the  Kaskaskia  and  the  Wabash  basins, 


130  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

its  frequency  coefficients  for  those  stream  systems  (3.31  and  2.27 
respectively)  being  many  times  those  for  any  others  in  the 
state.  It  is  an  exception  to  the  general  rule  in  the  fact  that  it 
enters  freely  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  notwithstanding  its 
evident  preference  for  clear  water. 

Gravid  females  occur  in  our  June  collections,  and  in  others 
taken  as  early  as  the  21st  of  May.  Females  are  uniformly 
smaller  than  males,  and  the  latter  are  further  distinguished  in 
spring  by  nine  large  tubercles  on  the  snout,  five  of  them  in  a 
row  just  above  the  upper  lip,  two  additional  ones  between  the 
nostrils,  and  one  on  each  side  between  the  nostril  and  the  eye. 


GENUS  NOTROPIS  EAFINESQUE 

Body  oblong  or  elongate,  either  more  or  less  compressed;  mouth  mostly 
terminal  and  oblique,  sometimes  subinferior;  premaxjllaries  protractile;  no 
barbels;  teeth  in  1  or  2  rows,  the  main  row  always  4-4;  peritoneum  as  a  rule 
pale,  though  often  dusky,  and  in  some  species  black  (anogenus) ;  dorsal  rays 
usually  7  or  8;  anal  rays  ordinarily  7  or  8  (or  9),  in  a  few  species  11  or  12; 
scales  usually  rather  large,  as  a  rule  less  than  40  in  lateral  series;  lateral  line 
complete  or  imperfect.  Size  usually  small,  most  species  not  exceeding  3  or 
4  inches.  A  very  large  group,  embracing  about  100  species,  all  confined  to 
the  fresh  waters  of  America  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  17  species  in 
Illinois. 


KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  NOTROPIS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Anal  rays  typically  7  or  8;   occasionally  9  in  two  compressed  forms   (see  bb, 

below),  in  which,  however,  scales  before  dorsal  are  not  over  17,  and  no 
black  spot  is  present  at  base  of  first  dorsal  rays;  teeth  4-4;  1,  4-4,  1;  or 
1  or  2,  4-4,  1  or  2. 

b.  Eye  moderate,  2%  to  2%  in  head,  always  less  than  4;  body  not  usually  much 

compressed,  the  back  gently  and  broadly  rounded  in  front  of  dorsal  fin; 
scales  not  closely  imbricated;  teeth  4-4;  1,  4-4,  1;  or  1  or  2,  4-4,  1  or  2. 

c.  Small  species,  seldom  over  2%   inches  in  length;    with   (1)    a  black  lateral 

stripe  along  sides  and  through  eye  to  end  of  snout,  or  (2)  a  conspicuous 
dark  spot  above  and  toelow  each  pore  of  lateral  line  anteriorly,  or  (3)  pale 
species,  with  no  vertebral  streak  and  the  spots  above  lateral  pores  incon- 
spicuous; teeth  4-4  or  1,  4-4,  1  (except  heterodon). 

d.  Eye  3  or  more  in  head   (sometimes  under  3  in   heterodon,  in  which   dark 

lateral  stripe  extends  through  eye  to  end  of  snout,  tipping  chin);  small, 
usually  less  than  2%  inches. 

e.  Scales  before  dorsal  large,  12  to  15  in  number;  teeth  4-4  (except  heterodon). 

f.  A  black  stripe  along  sides  through  eye  to  end  of  snout. 

g.  Chin  white;    mouth   small,   nearly  horizontal,    the   upper   lip   below  level   of 

lower  margin  of  pupil cayuga. 

gg.     Chin  black  at  tip;  mouth  moderate  or  very  small,  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  at 
level  of  upper  margin  of  pupil. 


NOTROPIS  131 

h.  Maxillary  reaching  posterior  nostril;  mouth  moderately  oblique,  making  40° 
to  60°  with  vertical;  teeth  0,  or  1,  or  2,  4-4,  0,  or  1,  or  2;  peritoneum 
silvery  heterodon. 

Kh.  Mouth  extremely  small  and  upturned,  the  maxillary  scarcely  reaching 
anterior  nostril,  and  making  an  angle  of  20°  to  30°  with  vertical  when 

mouth  is  closed;  teeth  4-4;  peritoneum  black anogenus. 

ff.     Black  lateral  stripe,  if  present,   developed   only  posteriorly    (not   continued 
forward  through  eye  to  end  of  snout). 

i.  Mouth  more  or  less  oblique,  jaws  subequal;  lateral  line  distinctly  decurved 
anteriorly.  A  dark  vertebral  streak,  and  a  plumbeous  lateral  band  more 
or  less  distinct  posteriorly;  scales  of  lateral  line  of  average  depth;  length 

2%    inches    blennius. 

ii.  Mouth  little,  if  any,  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  below  level  of  lower  margin  of 
orbit;  lower  jaw  distinctly  shorter  than  upper;  lateral  line  nearly  straight. 
phenacobius. 

ee.     Scales  before  dorsal  smaller,  17  to  19  in  number;   mouth  inferior,  lips  rather 

thick;    teeth   1.   4-4,   1 gilbert!. 

dd.  Eye  very  large,  2%  to  2%  in  head;  dark  lateral  stripe  not  developed  an- 
teriorly; some  dusky  color  on  chin  at  tip;  teeth  1,  4-4,  1;  length  3  inches.  . 

illecebrosus. 

cc.     Large  species,  4  to  6  inches  in  length  when  adult;   plumbeous  lateral  stripe 

not  continued  to  head;   course  of  lateral  line  not  anywhere  marked  out  by 

conspicuous   dark   spots   above  and   below   each   pore;    a  broad   vertebral 

streak  always  present;   teeth  1  or  2,  4-4,  1  or  2. 

j.     A  prominent  black  spot  at  base  of  caudal  fin;   scales  before  dorsal  18  to  20. 

hudsonius. 

jj.     No  black  spot  at  base  of  caudal;  scales  before  dorsal  15  or  16 jejunus. 

bb.  Eye  small,  4  to  5  in  head  in  adults;  body  more  or  less  distinctly  compressed, 
the  back  sharply  rounded  in  front  of  dorsal  fin;  scales  closely  imbricated; 
teeth  4-4  or  1,  4-4,  1. 

k.  Body  very  short  and  deep,  the  depth  3  to  3.3  in  length;  usually  no  dark 
color  on  posterior  membranes  of  dorsal  fin,  teeth  as  a  rule  4-4,  sometimes 

1,  4-4,  1   or  0 lutrensis. 

kk.     Body  more  elongate,  depth  3%  to  4  in  adults;   a  more  or  less  distinct  black 

blotch  on  last  membranes  of  dorsal;   teeth  1,  4-4,  1 whipplii. 

aa.     Anal  rays  9,  10,  11,  or  12;  teeth  2,  4-4,  2. 

I.  Dorsal  fin  in  front  of  or  over  ventrals;  exposed  portions  of  scales  of  flanks 
notably  deeper  than  long;  a  broad  dark  vertebral  streak;  anal  rays  9  or 

10,  usually  10 cornutus. 

II.     Dorsal  fin  behind  ventrals;  scales  roundish,  the  exposed  portions  not  notably 

deeper  than  long. 

m.  Scales  loosely  imbricated,  those  before  dorsal  in  15  to  17  series;  no  black 
spot  at  base  of  dorsal. 

n.    A  dark  vertebral  streak;  anal  rays  9  or  10 pilsbryi. 

nn.    Vertebral  streak  very  narrow  and  usually  faint. 
o.     Eye  equal  to  or  longer  than  snout;    maxillary   equal   to   eye;    snout  blunt; 

anal  rays  9,  10,  or  11  (usually  10) athennoides. 

oo.    Eye  shorter  than  snout;    maxillary  1%   times  eye;    snout  sharp;    anal  rays 

9  or  10 rubrifrons. 

Tim.     Scales  closely  imbricated,  about  30  series  in  front  of  dorsal;    a  black  spot 

usually   evident  at  front   of  base   of  dorsal;    anal   rays   10   to   12,   usually 

umbratilis. 


132  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 


FIG.  29 


NOTROPIS  ANOGENUS   FORBES 

Forbes,  1885,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  II.  2,  13$. 
M.  V.,  55;  J.  &  E.,  I,  259;  L.,  16. 

A  small,  weak  species,  very  similar  in  general  appearance  to  N.  heterodon, 
but  with  complete  lateral  line,  and  always  clearly  distinguishable  from  that 
species  by  its  black  peritoneum  and  its  very  small  and  extremely  oblique 
mouth,  the  maxillary  standing  at  an  angle  of  no  more  than  40°  with  the 
vertical.  Length  \Y^  inches;  body  moderately  elongate,  considerably  com- 
pressed, the  depth  4.3  to  4.5  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  rather  slender  and 
longer  than  head.  Color  dark  above,  yellowish  beneath:  sides  silvery  with  a 
distinct  plumbeous  to  blackish  lateral  band,  extending  from  a  small  dark 
spot  at  base  of  caudal  along  sides  and  through  eye  to  end  of  snout,  tipping  the 
chin;  scales  of  back  quite  thickly  specked  with  black  over  most  of  their  sur- 
faces; the  third  row  above  lateral  line  only  narrowly  edged  with  dusky;  the 
two  rows  covered  by  the  lateral  band  rather  densely  dusted  with  fine  specks 
among  which  are  occasional  much  larger  ones;  fins  faintly  dusky.  Head 
small,  4.3  to  4.5  in  length,  bluntly  conic,  its  width  l^  in  its  length;  in- 
terorbital  space  2.6  to  2.9;  eye  3.1  to  3.3;  nose  short  and  blunt,  4.5  to  4.8 
in  head;  mouth  very  small,  terminal,  extremely  oblique,  the  tip  of  the  upper 
lip  at  about  same  level  as  upper  margin  of  pupil;  maxillary  4.5  to  5.1  in  head, 
scarcely  twice  diameter  of  pupil,  not  reaching  back  of  anterior  nostril; 
isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  4-4,  with  well  developed  grinding  surfaces, 
sometimes  plain,  sometimes  crenate;  teeth  more  or  less  hooked  at  tip;  intestine 
1.2  to  1.3  times  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  black.  Dorsal  fin  with 
8  rays;  about  one  scale  behind  ventrals,  a  little  nearer  base  of  caudal  than 
muzzle;  longest  dorsal  ray  somewhat  more  than  head;  and  rays  7;  pectorals 
less  than  %  to  ventrals;  ventrals  reaching  vent.  Scales  5  or  6,  34  to  37,  3 
or  4;  rows  before  dorsal  13  or  14. 

This  well-marked  species  was  described  by  the  senior  author 
in  1885  from  24  specimens  collected  in  the  upper  Fox  River  at 
McHenry,  111.  It  has  since  been  taken  in  the  state  but  once. 
A  well-marked  specimen  was  found  in  Fourth  Lake  in  1892.  Dr. 
Meek  found  the  species  in  Cayuga  Lake,  N.  Y.,  in  1888,  and  has 
recently  obtained  a  number  of  excellent  specimens  from  northern 


NOTROPIS  133 


Indiana.  It  has  been  taken  in  Orchard  Lake,  Oakland  county, 
Mich.,  by  Mr.  T.  L.  Hankinson  during  the  present  summer 
(1906). 

A  female  taken  June  12,  was  full  of  eggs,  as  were  some  of 
the  types,  taken  from  the  8th  to  the  10th  of  May. 


NOTROPIS  CAYUGA   MEEK 

(PL.,  P.  128;  MAP  XXXIII) 

Meek,  1888,  Ann.  Ac.  Nat.  Hist.,  N.  Y.,  305. 
J.  &  E.,  I,  260;  L.,  16. 

Length  2V£  inches;  body  moderately  elongate,  depth  4.5  to  5.2  in  length; 
caudal  peduncle  about  equal  to  head,  rather  slender,  its  depth  2.3  to  2.8 
in  its  length.  Color  olivaceous,  the  scales  above  dark  edged,  their  outlines 
sharply  defined;  a  black  lateral  stripe  along  sides  and  through  eye  to  end  of 
snout;  a  faint  caudal  spot;  the  base  of  each  scale  of  lateral  line  marked  out 
by  a  conspicuous  crescentic  band*  of  black,  these  bands  crossing  the  lateral 
stripe  and  breaking  it  up  into  bars  posteriorly,  extending  below  it  on  anterior 
portion  of  body;  vertebral  streak  almost  obsolete.  Head  bluntly  conic, 
proportionately  longer  than  in  the  variety  next  described,  3.7  to  4,1  (average 
of  10  specimens  3.84)  in  length,  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.2;  interorbital  space 
2.9  to  3.5  in  head;  eye  large,  equal  to  snout,  3.1  to  3.5  in  head;  nose  3.2  to 
3.8  in  head;  mouth  very  small,  subterminal,  very  slightly  oblique,  the  upper 
lip  below  level  of  lower  margin  of  pupil;  back  of  maxillary  under  first  nostril; 
its  length  less  than  eye,  4.2  to  4.9  in  head  (average  of  10  specimens  4.47); 
jaws  subequal;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  4-4,  hooked,  the  grinding 
surface  narrow;  intestine  1  to  1.2  times  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum 
silvery.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  inserted  distinctly  behind  ventrals  and 
farther  from  muzzle  than  from  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  a  little 
less  than  head,  in  which  it  is  contained  1.1  to  1.2;  anal  rays  7  or  8,  usually 
8;  pectorals  %  to  ventrals,  1.3  to  1.5  in  head;  ventrals  to  vent  or  front  of  anal. 
Scales  5,  34  to  36,  3  or  4;  12  to  15  rows  before  dorsal;  lateral  pores  wanting 
on  some  scales. 

This  species  is  distributed  from  Lake  Champlain  and  the 
St.  Lawrence  River  to  the  Dakotas  and  Assiniboia,  Nebraska, 
Kansas,  Arkansas,  and  the  Neches  and  Comal  rivers  in  Texas. 
It  is  not  abundant  in  Illinois,  having  been  taken  by  us  in  only 
30  collections,  nearly  all  of  them  from  the  northern  half  of  the 
state.  It  is  most  abundant  in  creeks,  although  it  occurs  in  the 
northeast  glacial  lakes  and  has  been  taken  once  by  us  from  the 
Michigan  drainage. 

Females  apparently  near  spawning  have  been  captured  as 
early  as  June  5  and  as  late  as  August  1. 

*  Compare  description  of  N.  heterolepis  Eig.  &  Eig.,  Amer.  Nat.   Feb.   '93.  p.  152. 


134  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

NOTROPIS  CAYUGA  ATROCAUDALIS  EVERMANN 

Evermann,  1891,  Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  XI,  76. 

Length  2j/£  inches;  body  comparatively  shorter  and  deeper  than  in  the 
last  species,  the  depth  4  to  4.6  in  the  length;  caudal  peduncle  slender,  its 
depth  2.2  to  2.7  in  its  length.  Color  as  in  the  last,  except  that  the  dark 
lateral  stripe  is  solid,  there  being  no  transverse  crescentic  bars  at  bases  of 
scales  of  lateral  line.  Head  short,  3.8  to  4.2,  its  width  1.7  to  1.9  in  its  length; 
interorbital  space  2.6  to  3.1;  eye  2.8  to  3.3;  nose  3  to  3.7;  mouth  very  small, 
but  relatively  larger  than  in  the  last  species,  the  maxillary  3.6  to  4.3  (average 
3.83  for  10  specimens).  Teeth,  intestine,  and  peritoneum  as  in  last  species. 
Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  inserted  distinctly  in  front  of  ventrals  and  closer  to 
the  muzzle  than  to  the  base  of  the  caudal.  Scales  5,  33-38, 3  or  4;  12  to  14 
before  dorsal;  lateral  line  sometimes  wanting  on  a  few  scales. 

Females  distended  with  eggs  taken  in  June;  snout,  cheeks,  chin,  and 
top  of  head  of  breeding  males  quite  thickly  covered  with  evident  though 
small  tubercles.  (Tubercles  not  observed  in  males  of  N.  cayuga.) 

We  have  ten  collections  of  this  minnow,  containing  thirteen 
specimens  from  the  Illinois  and  adjacent  waters,  near  Meredosia, 
and  one  from  the  main  river  at  Havana.  A  specimen  from 
Mackinaw  creek  in  Woodford  county,  one  from  Anderson's 
branch,  in  Union  county,  and  one  from  the  Little  Fox  River  at 
Phillipstown  may  be  referred  with  some  uncertainty  to  this 
variety.  Specimens  taken  at  Greenway,  Arkansas,  by  Dr. 
Meek  are,  without  much  question,  identical  with  the  form  here 
described.  The  uncertainty  arises  from  the  difference  between 
the  published  figure  of  N.  cayuga  atrocaudalis  and  the  specific 
description,  the  figure  showing  the  lateral  stripe  solid  and  the 
dorsal  fin  inserted  in  front  of  the  ventrals,  and  the  description 
stating  that  the  dorsal  is  slightly  behind  the  ventrals. 

NOTROPIS  HETERODON  (COPE) 

(MAP  XXXIV) 

Cope,  1864,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  281  (Alburnops). 

G.f  VII,  261  (Leuciscus);  J.  &  G.,  163  (Hemitremia) ;   M.  V.,  55;   J.  &  E.,  I,  261;   N.. 
47  (Hemitremia);  J.  62  (Hemitremia);  F.  F.,  I.  6,  85  (Hemitremia);  F.,  78;  L.,  16. 

This  small  species,  distinguished  from  N.  anogenus  by  its  larger  and  less 
oblique  mouth  and  pale  peritoneum,  agrees  with  it  in  the  general  form  of  its 
body  and  in  having  a  dark  lateral  stripe  from  the  tip  of  the  snout  to  the  base 
of  the  caudal.  It  is  sharply  enough  separated  from  N.  cayuga  by  its  larger 
mouth  and  black-tipped  chin.  Care  is  sometimes  required  to  separate  it 
from  Hybognathus  nubila,  although  that  species  differs  from  it  radically  in 
its  generic  characters.  Length  2  inches;  body  moderately  compressed  and 
back  as  a  rule  noticeably  elevated  in  adults;  depth  4.1  to  4.6  in  length;  caudal 
peduncle  slender,  its  depth  2.3  to  3  in  its  length.  Color  olivaceous,  rather 


NOTKOPIS  135 

dusky  above,  the  dark  punctulations  on  the  scales  confined  mostly  to  the 
edges;  sides  leaden  silvery,  with  a  black  stripe  extending  forward  through 
eye  to  end  of  snout;  belly  with  an  otange  tint;  fins  plain.  Head  small,  conic, 
3.9  to  4.2  in  length;  width  of  head  1.8  to  2  in  its  length;  interorbital  space 
2.6  to  3.1;  eye  quite  large,  2.7  to  3  in  head,  being  usually  about  Yz  longer 
than  the  snout,  the  distance  from  the  tip  of  which  to  the  anterior  rim  of  the 
pupil  is  about  equal  to  the  diameter  of  the  orbit;  nose  short  and  rather 
sharp,  3.5  to  3.8  in  head;  mouth  moderate,  oblique,  the  upper  lip  as  a  rule 
on  a  level  with  the  upper  margin  of  the  pupil;  cleft  of  mouth  making  an  angle 
of  40°  to  60°  with  the  vertical;  maxillary  scarcely  reaching  front  of  orbit,  its 
length  about  %  the  diameter  of  the  very  large  eye;  jaws  subequal,  the  isthmus 
less  than  pupil.  Teeth  as  a  rule  1,  .4-4, 1,  in  occasional  instances  1,  4-4,  0, 
0,  4-4, 1,  or  4-4;  the  first  three  teeth  of  the  outer  row  usually  strongly  hooked 
and  with  a  well-developed  groove  whose  edges  are  somewhat  crenate;  intes- 
tine shorter  than  body  and  head;  peritoneum  silvery.  Dorsal  fin  with  8 
rays,  slightly  nearer  snout  than  base  of  caudal,  set  almost  directly  over 
ventrals;  longest  dorsal  ray  somewhat  less  than  head  (1.1);  anal  rays  8, 
occasionally  7;  pectorals  short,  less  than  ^  to  ventrals,  1.3  to  1.6  in  head; 
ventrals  reaching  vent.  Scales  5,  35-38,  3;  12  to  14  scales  before  dorsal; 
lateral  line  as  a  rule  developed  only  anteriorly;  some  specimens  met  with, 
however,  in  which  not  more  than  2  or  3  pores  were  lacking  on  posterior 
half  of  body. 


FIG.  30 

The  typical  form  of  this  species  appears  to  be  confined,  with 
us, [to  the  northern  part  of  Illinois,  being  most  abundant  in  the 
small  glacial  lakes  of  Lake  and  McHenry  counties,  where  it  is 
found  in  clear,  cool  water  among  weeds  and  over  sand  along 
shore.  Specimens  taken  from  the  headwaters  of  the  Fox,  Des 
Plaines,  and  Du  Page  rivers,  and  some  from  the  upper  Rock 
and  its  tributaries  (Yellow  creek,  Stephenson  county,  Kiswaukee 
River  at  Sycamore,  Rock  River  at  Oregon,  and  Green  River  at 
Geneseo)  have  the  teeth  0,4-4,  1,  or  1.  4-4, 1,  though  the  body 
is  somewhat  slender  and  the  eye  is  hardly  so  large  as  in  the  lake 
form.  From  farther  southward  we  have  about  80  collections, 
chiefly  from  the  sluggish  waters  of  the  Illinois  River  and  tribu- 
tary lakes  at  Havana  and  Meredosia,  in  which  the  dentition  is 


136  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

more  usually  2,  4-4, 2,  and  the  lateral  line  is  nearly  always  com- 
plete. Collections  of  the  same  form,  which  may  be  identical 
with  the  unnamed*  variety  of  N.  heterodon  described  some  years 
ago  from  Switz  City  swamp,  Indiana,  and  localities  in  southern 
Illinois,  have  also  been  taken  in  lowland  streams  of  the  Wabash, 
Ohio,  and  Big  Muddy  valleys. 

New  York  to  Michigan,  Minnesota,  and  Kansas,  including 
Lakes  Michigan  and  Huron  and  the  Ohio  basin.  Distributed 
sparingly  throughout  the  state,  mainly  in  the  lowland  and  glacial 
lakes,  and  in  a  way  to  indicate  an  avoidance  of  the  lower  Illi- 
noisan  glaciation.  Our  93  collections,  from  21  localities,  were 
derived  in  extraordinarily  small  proportion  from  either  creeks 
or  rivers  of  the  smaller  size.  The  order  of  relative  abundance 
in  our  waters  is  as  follows:  glacial  lakes,  2.68;  lowland  lakes, 
1.44;  the  larger  rivers,  .98;  creeks,  .63;  and  the  smaller  rivers, 
.17.  It  is  about  equally  abundant  from  northern  and  from 
central  Illinois,  but  is  considerably  less  common  in  the  waters 
of  the  southern  part  of  the  state. 

The  food  of  eighteen  specimens  studied,  was  peculiar  in 
respect  to  the  large  percentage  of  Entomostraca  included —  a  fact 
perhaps  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  small  size  of  the  species  and 
the  somewhat  unusual  development  of  the  gill-rakers,  although 
many  of  the  specimens  examined  were  taken  where  Entomostraca 
were  very  abundant  at  the  time.  Aquatic  insect  larvse,  mainly 
Chironomus,  an  amphipod  crustacean  (Allorchestes) ,  and  flowers 
and  seeds,  with  filamentous  algae,  were  the  other  principal 
elements  of  the  food. 

The  species  spawns  in  May  and  June  in  central  Illinois. 
The  snout  and  top  of  the  head  of  the  male  are  finely  tuberculate. 

*  Notropis  heterodon,  var.,  Gilbert  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  1884  p.  207. 


Ilk 


XOTROPIS 


FIG.  31 


NOTROPIS  BLENNIUS  (GIRAED) 

STRAW-COLORED   MINNOW 
(MAP  XXXV) 

Girard,  1856,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.   Phila.,  194   (Alburnops). 

M.  V.,  56   (deliciosus);    J.  &  E.,  I,   261;    N.,   46   (Hybopsis  stramineus) ;    J.,   57    (Al- 
burnops stramineus);    F.  F.,  I.  6,   84    (Luxilus  cornutus) ;    F.   78    (stramineus); 

K,  17. 

A  small  pale  species  of  rather  indefinite  characters,  almost  entirely 
without  marked  distinctions  of  either  form  or  color.  Length  2^  inches; 
body  about  equally  tapered  both  forward  and  backward  from  its  deepest 
point,  which  is  a  little  in  front  of  a  line  connecting  first  dorsal  and  ventral 
rays;  moderately  compressed;  depth  4.2  to  4.8;  caudal  peduncle  rather 
slender,  its  depth  2  to  3.1  in  its  length.  Color  very  light  olive  above,  paler 
below;  sides  silvery,  with  an  indistinct  light-leaden  stripe  above  lateral  line, 
above  and  below  each  pore  of  which  is  a  black  spot;  belly  silvery;  a  faint 
vertebral  streak,  broadening  into  an  evident  blackish  blotch  at  front  of 
dorsal;  caudal  spot  faint  or  but  a  trace;  head  olivaceous  above,  the  cheeks 
and  opercles  silvery;  dorsal  and  caudal  often  with 
some  dusky;  other  fins  pale.  Head  small,  conic, 
3.8  to  4.2  in  length  of  head  and  body;  width  of  head 

1.7  to  2  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  3  to  3.6  in 
head;  eye  2.9  to  3.4,  usually  over  3.2  in  full-grown 
specimens;    nose  bluntly  conic,  scarcely  decurved, 
its  length  equal  to  diameter  of  eye  in  adults,  3.3  to 

3.8  in  head,  usually  about  3.5;  mouth  rather  small, 
terminal,  slightly  or  moderately  oblique,  the  tip  of 
the  upper  lip  seeming  to  vary  in  position  from  quite 

on  a  level  with  the  inferior  margin  of  the  pupil  to  even  with  the  lower  margin 
of  the  orbit;  maxillary  3.3  to  3.7  in  head,  about  reaching  vertical  from  front 
of  orbit;  jaws  about  equal;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  4-4,  rather 
strongly  hooked,  with  grinding  surfaces  developed  on  at  least  two  or  three 
teeth;  intestine  .9  to  1.2  times  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  more 
or  less  densely  sprinkled  with  rather  large  and  coarse  black  specks.  Dorsal 
fin  with  8  rays  (rarely  7) ,  inserted  almost  directly  over,  or  slightly  in  advance 
of,  ventrals,  and  usually  almost  exactly  equidistant  between  muzzle  and  base 
of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.1  to  1.3  in  head;  anal  rays  7  (rarely  6) ;  pectorals 


FIG.  32 


138  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

about  %  to  ventrals,  1.2  to  1.4  in  head;  ventrals  reaching  vent  or  front  of 
anal.  Scales  5, 32-36,  4;  12  or  14  before  dorsal;  lateral  line  complete,  general- 
ly noticeably  decurved  on  anterior  half  of  body. 

This  abundant  but  rather  insignificant  and  indefinite  species 
belongs  to  the  group  which  apparently  avoid  the  streams  of  the 
southern  Illinoisan  glaciation.  Although  distributed  through- 
out the  state  from  the  Ohio  and.  Saline  rivers  on  the  south  to  the 
extreme  northern  boundary,  and  represented  in  our  records  by 
128  collection  localities,  but  five  of  these  are  within  that  area, 
and  these  are  on  its  northern  borders  where  its  peculiarities  are 
least  pronounced.  It  is  consistent  with  this  limitation  to  its 
distribution  in  this  state  that  it  should  show  a  decided  preference, 
according  to  our  collection  records,  for  clean  swift  waters  over 
muddy  and  stagnant  ones.  Its  frequency  coefficient  for  waters 
over  a  bottom  of  rock  or  sand  is  2.00,  and  the  corresponding 
frequency  ratio  for  a  swift  current  is  1.18.  It  is  essentially  a 
species  of  .small  rivers  and  creeks,  our  frequencies  for  these  two 
classes  of  streams  being  2.65  and  2.23  respectively,  while  that 
for  the  larger  rivers  is  only  .41  and  that  for  lakes  and  ponds  but 
.17.  In  general  distribution  it  is  limited  to  a  region  extending 
from  the  Great  Lake  basin,  Lake  Champlain,  and  the  streams 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  system,  by  way  of  the  Missouri  River  to 
Wyoming,  northward  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  and  the  Red 
River  of  the  North,  and  southward  through  the  Ohio  and  the 
Mississippi  basins  to  the  San  Antonio  River  in  Texas. 

From  the  little  that  is  known  of  its  feeding  habits,  its  food 
is  no  more  peculiar  than  its  general  appearance,  consisting  of  a 
mixture  of  aquatic  insects,  crustaceans,  and  chance  vegetation. 

NOTROPIS  PHENACOBIUS  FORBES 

Forbes,  1885,  Bull.  HI.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  II.  2,  137. 

This  fish  unites  with  a  strong  general  resemblance  to  Phenacobius  the 
characters  of  Notropis.    The  body  of  the  adult  is  short  and  deep,  the  head 
square,  the  nose  long,   and  the  eye  unusually  large. 
^^^IX         Length  2^4  inches;  depth  3.5  to  4;  caudal  peduncle  4 
^^B        Bt        to  4-75.     Color  in  alcohol  indefinite;  sides  somewhat 
£'  »  A       silvery,  scales  along  and  above  the  lateral  line  slightly 

%,,  "*  specked  with  black.    The  head  is  quadrate  in  trans- 

verse section,  flat  above,  3.75  to  4;  nose  decurved,  3.4 
FIG  33  to  3.5;  interorbital  space  2.9  to  3.1.     The  mouth  is 

inferior,  horizontal,  rather  small,  lips  fleshy,  not  lobed, 
lower  jaw  much  the  shorter,  2.75  to  3.1  in  head,  upper  lip  opposite  the  lower 
margin  of  the  pupil,  upper  jaw  to  posterior  margin  of  nostrils,  3.33  to  3.9 


NOTROPIS  139 

in  head.  Teeth  4-4.  Intestine  about  equal  to  head  and  body,  .97  to  1.17. 
Eye  very  large,  circular,  placed  high  up,  3.4  to  3.5  in  head.  Branchiostegals 
free  from  isthmus.  Dorsal  1-8,  decidedly  before  ventrals,  its  length  7  to  8 
in  body;  anal  low,  1-8;  paired  fins  rather  broad  and  short;  ventrals  not  reach- 
ing vent,  and  pectorals  falling  far  short  of  ventrals,  the  former  6.25  to  6.4 
in  head  and  body.  The  scales  are  thin,  large,  crowded  anteriorly  upon  the 
sides,  breast  wholly  naked  in  all  the  specimens  seen.  Lateral  line  35  to  36, 
longitudinal  rows  7  to  9,  13  to  14  before  dorsal.  Described  from  10  speci- 
mens, the  only  ones  seen,  all  taken  at  Peoria. 

This  species  is  retained  with  some  hesitation,  owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  ten  type  specimens  obtained  many  years  ago  are 
the  only  ones  of  it  ever  seen,  and  through  some  unaccountable 
misadventure  all  but  one  of  these  types  have  disappeared  from 
the  State  Laboratory  collection.  Concerning  this  species  Dr. 
Evermann  writes  me,  under  date  of  March  8,  1908,  after  an 
examination  of  this  type:  "In  some  respects  this  specimen 
resembles  N.  blennius,  but  is  much  deeper  and  more  arched, 
and  the  head  is  slightly  longer.  We  have  compared  it  with 
the  type  of  'Cliola  chlora  Jordan,'  which  is  considered  a  synonym 
of  N.  scylla,  but  it  is  not  that  species.  *  *  *  If  you  have  any 
reason  for  believing  that  this  specimen  is  the  type  of  your  N. 
phenacobius,  I  would  be  disposed  to  accept  it  as  such  and  let 
the  species  stand  as  good. " 


FIG  34 

NOTROPIS  GILBERTI  JORDAN  &  MEEK 

(MAP  XXXVI) 

Jordan  &  Meek,  1885,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  4. 
M.  V.,  57;  J.  &  E.,  I,  266;  L.,  17. 

The  long,  broad,  and  flat  head,  comparatively  inferior  mouth,  and 
rather  thick  lips  of  this  species  distinguish  it  sufficiently  from  all  other 
Illinois  species  of  the  genus  Notropis.  Length  2^2  inches;  form  much  as 
in  Ericymba  buccata,  the  body  subfusiform,  usually  rather  long  and  slender, 
and  the  back  gently  and  broadly  elevated;  depth  4.3  to  5;  caudal  peduncle 
usually  longer  than  head,  slender,  its  depth  2.1  to  2.9  in  its  length.  Color 
light  olive  above;  sides  silvery;  a  conspicuous  median  dorsal  stripe  and  a 
plumbeous  lateral  streak;  scales  above  dark-edged,  those  below  lateral  line 


140  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

on  posterior  half  of  body  and  caudal  peduncle  rather  sparsely  specked  with 
black;  top  of  head  and  muzzle  darkish;  fins  all  plain;  dorsal,  caudal,  and 
pectorals  pale  rosy  in  spring  males,  in  which  also  the  head  is  covered  with 
very  fine  tubercles  that  suggest  a  sprinkling  of  white  dust.  Head  long, 
broad,  flattish  above,  3.5  to  4  in  length;  its  width  1.8  to  2.1  in  its  length; 
interorbital  space  3  to  3.6;  eye  3  to  3.8;  nose  long  and  muzzle  decurved,  the 
snout  usually  greater  than  eye,  2.8  to  3.3  in  head;  mouth  rather  large,  nearly 
horizontal  and  inferior,  the  tip  of  the  upper  lip  below  the  level  of  the  lower 
margin  of  the  orbit;  lower  jaw  included;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  1, 
4-4,  1;  intestine  a  little  less  than  head  and  body;  peritoneum  silvery,  with 
sometimes  a  very  few  dark  specks.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays  (sometimes  9) 
quite  uniformly  set  slightly  behind  ventrals;  longest  dorsal  ray  ^7  of  head  in 
adults,  1.1  to  1.4;  anal  rays  8  (occasionally  9);  pectorals  about  %  to  ventrals, 
1.3  to  1.6  in  head;  ventrals  to  or  past  vent.  Scales  6,  34-37,4,  smaller  and 
crowded  anteriorly,  16  to  18  rows  before  dorsal;  lateral  line  complete,  de- 
curved  anteriorly. 

This  is  a  western  species,  the  range  of  which  to  the  eastward 
terminates  in  Illinois.  It  extends  westward  through  Iowa  to 
eastern  Colorado,  being  most  abundant,  so  far  as  known,  in 
muddy  streams  of  the  plains  from  the  Des  Moines  to  the  Platte. 
It  occurs  also  in  tributaries  of  the  Missouri  in  Missouri  and 
Iowa.  Only  2  of  the  32  localities  from  which  it  has  been  recog- 
nized in  this  state  lie  outside  the  Mississippi  drainage,  and  both 
of  these  are  in  the  Wabash  Valley,  one  near  the  mouth  of  that 
stream  and  the  other  on  the  extreme  headwaters  of  the  Em- 
barras.  It  seems  to  be  essentially  a  species  of  small  rivers  and 
creeks,  our  ratios  of  occurrence  in  the  larger  rivers  and  in  lakes 
and  ponds  being  quite  insignificant. 

Gravid  females  have  been  found  by  us  in  the  latter  part  of 
June. 

NOTROPIS  ILLECEBROSUS   (GIRAED) 

(MAP  XXXVII) 

Girard,  1856,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  194   (Alburnops). 
J.  &  E.,  I,  268  (illecebrosus);  L,.,  17  (shumardi). 

The  very  large  eye,  large  oblique  mouth,  and  broad  head  of  this  species 
distinguish  it  from  all  other  Illinois  minnows  of  its  genus.  Length  3  inches, 
body  moderately  compressed,  the  back  little  elevated;  depth  4.5  to  5.4  in 
length;  caudal  peduncle  rather  slender,  its  depth  2.1  to  2.7  in  its  length. 
Color  olivaceous  or  straw,  the  sides  little  silvery;  a  dark  lateral  band,  con- 
tinued forward  through  eye  to  end  of  snout,  tipping  the  chin;  fins  all  plain. 
Head  broad  and  flat  above,  3.8  to  4.1  in  length;  width  of  head  1.8  to  2.1; 
interorbital  space  2.8  to  3.2;  eye  very  large,  >£  to  Y±  longer  than  nose  or 
maxillary,  2.4  to  2.8  in  head;  nose  2.9  to  3.6,  blunt  and  shorter  than  the  very 
large  eye;  muzzle  not  decurved;  mouth  large  and  quite  oblique,  the  tip  of 
upper  lip  above  level  of  lower  margin  of  pupil;  maxillary  reaching  front  of 


NOTBOPIS  141 

orbit;  lower  jaw  slightly  shorter  than  upper;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth 
1,  4-4, 1;  intestine  about  1.15  times  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  a 
very  dark  brown  to  almost  solid  black.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  inserted  a 
little  behind  ventrals,  about  equidistant  between  muzzle  and  base  of  caudal; 
longest  dorsal  ray  usually  a  little  less  than  head,  1  to  1.2;  anal  rays  8  (occa- 
sionally 7);  pectorals  %  to  %  to  ventrals,  1.1  to  1.3  in  head;  ventrals  to 
vent,  not  reaching  anal  in  any  of  our  specimens.  Scales  5  or  6  (usually  5), 
35-37,  3;  13  to  15  in  front  of  dorsal  fin;  lateral  line  complete,  somewhat 
decurved  anteriorly. 


This  species,  rather  rare  in  Illinois,  is  closely  limited  in  the 
main  to  the  tributaries  of  the  Wabash  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
state,  from  which  it  is  recorded  in  our  collections  at  17  localities, 
the  only  other  places  of  its  occurrence  in  this  state  being  Cedar 
Lake,  in  northeastern  Illinois,  Mazon  creek,  a  branch  of  the 
Illinois  River  near  its  origin,  and  a  small  bluff  stream  of  the 
Mississippi,  in  Hancock  county.  Its  general  range  is  from  the 
Lake  Erie  basin  and  the  Ohio  River  westward  to  Arkansas  and 
Missouri. 

Females  with  fully  developed  eggs,  and  breeding  males  with 
muzzle  and  chin  tuberculate,  have  been  taken  by  us  in  the  latter 
part  of  May. 

NOTROPIS  HUDSONIUS  (DEWITT  CLINTON) 

SPOT- TAILED   MINNOW 
(MAP  XXXVIII) 

DeWitt  Clinton,  1824,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  I,  49  (Clupea). 

G.,  VII,  251   (Leuciscus);   M.  V.,  57;   J.  &  E.,  I,  269;    N.,  46   (Hybopsis);    J.,  56    (Al- 
burnops);   P.  F.,  I.  6,  82   (Hybopsis);    F.,  77;   L..,  17. 

The  usually  large  and  conspicuous  black  caudal  spot  of  this  minnow, 
rarely  absent  in  western  specimens  of  the  species,  will  commonly  serve  to 
call  attention  to  it  when  found,  and  will  serve  to  separate  it  from  the  other 
larger  and  paler  species  of  Illinois  Cyprinidce.  Length  4  to  6  inches;  body 
moderately  robust,  not  much  elongate,  considerably  compressed,  the  sides 
vertical  at  their  middle;  depth  4  to  4.5  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  shorter 
than  head,  its  depth  1.9  to  2.3  in  its  length.  Color  very  pale  olive;  sides 


142  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

with  a  very  broad  silvery  to  plumbeous  band;  commonly  a  large  black  spot 
at  base  of  caudal  fin;  scales  faintly  cross-hatched  on  upper  part  of  body  and 
for  a  little  distance  below  lateral  line  forward;  spots  above  and  below  pores 
of  lateral  line  faint  or  wanting;  fins  pale.  Head  short,  4.1  to  4.7  in  length  of 
head  and  body;  width  of  head  1.8  to  2.1;  interorbital  space  2.5  to  2.9;  eye 
moderate,  2.8  to  3.5  in  head,  equal  to  nose  or  slightly  shorter  or  longer  in 
adults;  nose  blunt,  usually  somewhat  decurved,  3.2  to  3.5  in  head;  mouth 
rather  small,  nearly  horizontal,  the  tip  of  upper  lip  below  level  of  lower 
margin  of  pupil;  maxillary  usually  not  quite  reaching  orbit,  3.7  to  4.5  in  head; 
lower  jaw  shorter  than  upper;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  variable:  0, 
4-4, 1;  1,  4-4, 1;  1, 4-4,  2;  or  2, 4-4,  2;  teeth  of  main  row  more  or  less  hooked, 
and  generally  quite  compressed,  the  grinding  surface  developed  as  a  quite 
narrow  groove  whose  edges  are  smooth;  intestine  .9  to  1.4  times  length  of 
head  and  body;  peritoneum  silvery,  finely  but  not  densely  specked  with  dark. 
Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  set  usually  a  trifle  in  advance  of  the  ventrals  and  nearer 
snout  than  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  about  equal  to  the  length  of  the 
short  head;  anal  rays  8;  pectorals  scarcely  %  to  ventrals;  ventrals  usually 
short  of  vent.  Scales  5  or  6,  36  to  39,  4;  15  to  18  before  dorsal;  longitudinal 
rows  of  scales  above  lateral  line  with  the  appearance  of  " running  out"  behind 
dorsal  fin,  as  in  N.  cornutus;  lateral  line  usually  complete,  not  much  decurved 
anteriorly. 


FIG.  36 

This  abundant,  graceful,  and  well-known  species,  essentially 
a  northern  minnow  in  this  state,  is  much  the  most  abundant  in 
our  largest  rivers  and  in  lakes,  its  frequency  ratio  in  the  former 
being  1.8,  and  in  the  latter  1.76.  In  small  rivers  and  in  creeks 
it  has 'been  taken  only  occasionally,  the  corresponding  ratios 
being  .29  and  .14.  It  is  abundant  in  its  favorite  localities,  and 
appears  in  147  of  our  collections.  In  Illinois  it  is  limited  to  the 
Mississippi  and  Lake  Michigan  drainage,  and  has  occurred  but 
twice  south  of  the  central  part  of  the  state,  once  in  Union  county 
and  once  from  the  Ohio  at  Cairo.  We  have  found  it  most 
frequently  in  the  Illinois  River  and  its  adjacent  waters  at  Havana 
and  Meredosia,  from  which  two  places  119  of  our  collections 
have  come.  It  is  also  one  of  the  commonest  longshore  minnows 
in  southern  Lake  Michigan,  swarming  especially  about  the  piers 
off  Chicago,  where  it  is  caught  in  quantities  and  sold  fbr  bait. 


NOTROPIS  143 

Although  reported  from  South  Carolina,  it  is  essentially  a 
northern  species,  ranging  from  New  England,  Quebec,  and  the 
Lake  of  the  Woods  through  the  Hudson  and  Great  Lake  basin  to 
the  streams  of  the  Missouri  in  Minnesota  and  the  Dakotas.  It 
is  abundant  in  the  Great  Lakes  and  at  the  mouths  of  the  rivers 
opening  into  them.  In  Ohio  and  in  Indiana,  as  in  Illinois,  it  is 
generally  confined  to  the  northern  parts  of  the  state. 

It  is  a  typical  minnow  in  its  food,  depending  on  insects, 
crustaceans,  and  vegetation,  the  latter  partly  algae  of  the  fila- 
mentous forms  and  partly  fragments  of  aquatic  plants.  This 
general  statement  does  not  indicate  the  variety  of  its  resources 
or  the  seeming  indifference  with  which  it  will  fill  itself  with  one 
or  the  other  kind  of  food  which  it  finds  most  abundant.  One  of 
our  specimens,  for  example,  had  eaten  nothing  but  algae,  and 
these  plants  made  three  fourths  of  the  food  of  another.  Three 
had  eaten  only  insects,  and  these  were  90  per  cent.,  or  more,  of 
the  food  of  three  others.  Two  had  taken  nothing  but  Entomos- 
traca,  all  a  species  of  Cypris  feeding  upon  the  bottom.  Four  had 
filled  themselves  with  various  vegetable  structures,  and  90  per 
cent.,  or  more,  of  the  food  of  three  others  consisted  of  like 
material.  Three  out  of  four  of  these  minnows,  taken  at  Nipper- 
sink  Lake  in  May,  had  eaten  only  terrestrial  snout-beetles 
(Rhynchophora) ,  whose  occurrence  in  the  water  was  a  matter 
of  chance.  The  larvae  of  day-flies  (Ephemerida)  made  more  than 
three  fourths  of  the  food  of  three  other  specimens.  One  had 
eaten  a  small  fish,  and  traces  of  like  food  were  found  in  another. 

NOTROPIS  LUTRENSIS  (BAIRD  &  GIRARD) 

RED  FIN 
(MAP  XXXIX) 

Baird  &  Girard,  1853,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  397  (Leuciscus). 

G.,  VII,  258  (Leuciscus);  J.  &  G.,  172  (Cliola  iris  and  C.  jugalis),  174  (C.  gibbosa 
and  C.  forbesi),  175  (C.  lutrensis),  176  (C.  suavis),  177  (billingsiana);  M.  V., 
57;  J.  &  E.,  I,  271;  J.,  57  (Cyprinella  forbesi);  F.,  77;  L,.,  17. 

This  little  fish  is  especially  distinguished  among  Illinois  Cyprinidce  by 
the  brilliancy  of  its  color  and  by  the  depth  and  thinness  of  its  body,  fully 
grown  specimens  not  seldom  having  the  depth  in  length  less  than  2%.  It  is 
very  nearly  allied  to  the  next  species,  N.  whipplii,  compared  with  which  it 
seems  to  be  merely  a  more  specialized  form,  the  two  sometimes  intergrading 
in  an  obscure  and  very  puzzling  way.  It  may,  however,  be  distinguished 
from  the  next  species,  as  a  rule,  by  its  greater  depth  when  adult,  by  the 


144  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

greater  thickness  at  the  nape,  the  more  elevated  back  and  steeper  profile, 
and  by  the  absence,  in  most  specimens,  of  the  black  spot  on  the  posterior  part 
of  the  dorsal  fin.  Length  2%  inches;  depth  2.7  to  3.2  in  length  in  adults,  the 
young  more  slender;  caudal  peduncle  shorter  than  head,  its  depth  1.7  to  2.1 
in  its  length.  Color  of  females  and  postnuptial  males  olivaceous  under 
iridescent  steel  above,  pale  greenish  to  greenish  gray  and  silvery  lower  down 
and  on  belly;  a  faint  purplish  wedge-shaped  bar  behind  opercles;  fins  plain 
(in  typical  specimens),  tinged  with  reddish  or  orange  in  males.  ,  Spring  males 
with  the  upper  parts  a  brilliant  iridescent  steel-blue,  the  sides  and  belly 
orange-red  to  crimson,  and  the  top  of  head,  cheeks,  and  opercles  flushed  with 
rose;  gill-opening  bordered  with  red;  the  postopercular  bar  a  brilliant  purplish 
violet,  behind  which  is  a  broad  vertical  band  of  faint  crimson;  all  the  fins 
reddish,  the  dorsal  dusky  with  greenish  at  base;  pectorals  plain  red;  ventrals 
blood-red  tipped  with  a  narrow  margin  of  orange;  caudal  dusky  near  base, 
crimson  outward,  tipped  with  darker.  Head  3.6  to  4  in  length,  stout  and 
deep,  depressed  but  not  flat  above,  the  profile  angled  at  the  nape,  most  so  in 
males;  width  of  head  1.8  to  2.2  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  2.5  to  2.8, 
nearly  twice  the  small  eye;  eye  4  to  4.5,  less  than  nose;  nose  3.1  to  3.6  in  head, 
conic,  sharper  and  upturned  in  males;  mouth  oblique,  the  tip  of  upper  lip 
above  level  of  lower  margin  of  pupil;  maxillary  3  to  3.6  in  head,  reaching  to 
vertical  from  back  of  posterior  nostril,  but  not  to  orbit;  lower  jaw  included,  the 
upper  considerably  projecting  in  males  (in  females  the  jaws  are  usually  very 
nearly  equal) ;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  variable,  usually  4-4,  though 
0,  4-4, 1,  1,4-4,  0,  and  1,4-4,  1  are  not  uncommonly  met  with  in  our  collec- 
tions; the  supernumerary  teeth  are  usually  weak  and  much  less  developed 
than  in  the  next  species,  in  which  the  number  is  normally  1,4-4,  1;  intestine 
shorter  than  head  and  body,  in  which  it  is  contained  .8  to  .9  times;  peritoneum 
silvery,  finely  but  not  densely  specked  with  black.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays, 
set  a  little  behind  or  over  the  ventrals;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.1  to  1.3  in  head; 
anal  rays  usually  8,  sometimes  7  or  9;  pectorals  %  to  ventrals,  1.2  to  1.4  in 
head;  ventrals  to  vent  in  females,  to  front  of  anal  in  males.  Scales  6, 34-37, 
3-4;  rows  before  dorsal  14  to  17;  lateral  line  complete,  strongly  decurved, 
being  approximately  parallel  with  the  lower  outline. 

This  little  redfin,  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  in  its  breeding 
colors,  of  any  of  our  minnows,  is  essentially  a  western  species;  and 
all  our  163  collections  have  been  made  from  the  streams  of  the 
Mississippi  drainage.  Outside  this  state  the  species  ranges  from 
South  Dakota  and  Wyoming  to  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Missouri,  and 
Arkansas,  and  the  tributaries  of  the  Rio  Grande.  It  is  a  minnow 
of  the  streams,  present  in  about  equal  ratio  in  creeks  and  the 
larger  and  the  smaller  rivers,  but  found  in  lowland  lakes  with  only 
about  half  the  frequency  of  its  occurrence  in  running  waters.  It 
tolerates  muddy  waters,  as  is  shown  by  its  frequency  coefficient 
of  1.69,  and  it  enters  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation  in  the 
branches  of  the  Big  Muddy.  It  is  closely  allied  to  N.  whipplii, 
and  appears,  in  fact,  to  intergrade  with  that  species,  of  which 
it  is  the  representative  to  the  south  and  west. 


NOTROPIS  145 

This  active  minnow  loves  to  play  in  the  swift  ripples  of 
rocky  streams,  where  its  presence  may  be  betrayed  to  the  watch- 
ful observer  by  flashes  of  rainbow  color  from  a  fish  not  otherwise 
visible.  It  spawns  from  the  middle  of  May  to  the  last  of  June. 
The  breeding  males  are  excessively  tuberculate,  with  a  double 
row  of  tubercles  bordering  the  upper  lip,  a  triangular  or  cres- 
centic  patch  about  each  eye,  two  longitudinal  rows  along  the 
middle  of  the  top  of  the  head,  and  several  shorter  ones  upon  the 
sides.  The  scales  of  the  nape  and  those  of  the  sides  of  the 
body  are  also  tuberculate,  especially  those  on  the  caudal  peduncle 
between  the  anal  fin  and  the  lateral  line.  Sometimes  all  the 
scales  are  tuberculate,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  in  front  of  the 
ventrals,  on  the  lower  part  of  the  sides  and  belly.  We  have 
even  seen  females  with  small  tubercles  upon  the  head. 


NOTROPIS  WHIPPLII   (GIRARD) 

STEEL-COLORED   MINNOW;    SILVERFIN;    LEMON-FIN 
(MAP  XL) 

Girard,  1856,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  198  (Cyprinella). 

G.,  VII,  254  (Leuciscus  spilopterus) ;  J.  &  G.,  178  (Cliola),  179  (C.  analostoma); 
M.  V.,  58;  J.  &  E.,  I.  278;  N.,  47  (Cyprinella  galacturus);  J.,  57  (Photogenis 
analostanus);  F.,  F.,  I.  6,  87  (Photogenis  analostanus) ;  F.,  77;  L.,  17. 

This  species,  which  presents  a  general  resemblance  to  N.  lutrensis,  is 
generally  distinguishable  from  that  species  by  its  more  elongate,  lanceolate 
form,  by  its  longer  and  more  pointed  head,  and,  in  most  cases,  by  the  black 
spot  on  the  posterior  membranes  of  the  dorsal  fin  (a  mark  absent  in  typical 
specimens  of  lutrensis).  Length  3  to  4  inches;  depth  3.3  to  4  in  length  in 
adults;  females  and  young  more  slender,  the  depth  4.3  to  5;  caudal  peduncle 
slightly  shorter  than  head,  its  depth  1.7  to  2.2  in  its  length.  Color  leaden 
silvery  over  olive  in  females,  somewhat  bluish  forward  and  above.  Males 
bright  steel-blue  to  purplish  above,  dull  silvery  white  or  greenish  on  lower 
part  of  sides  and  on  belly;  steel  color  most  prominent  behind  and  above 
opercles  and  above  lateral  line  backward  along  sides  to  tip  of  caudal  peduncle; 
cheeks  and  opercles  metallic  purplish  blue;  iris  brassy,  purplish  outward 
above;  scales  of  sides  with  dusky  bluish  lines  parallel  to  their  edges,  pro- 
ducing the  appearance  of  a  very  regular  and  sharply  defined  lozenge-blocked 
reticulation*  over  the  entire  side,  this  appearance  being  aided  by  the  great 
uniformity  in  size  of  the  scales;  a  rather  broad  but  faint  vertebral  streak; 
two  black  blotches  on  the  posterior  membranes  of  the  dorsal  (fainter  in 
females);  paired  fins,  lower  part  of  belly,  tips  of  anal  and  caudal,  and  the 

*  These  lozenges  of  darker  blue  outline  on  a  purplish  or  steel-blue  ground  form  one  of  the 
most  noticeable  features  of  the  coloration  of  this  species  distinguishing  it  ordinarily  with  readi- 
ness from  A7,  lutrensis,  in  which,  except  in  some  specimens  from  the  more  northward  part  of  its 
range,  the  cross-hatching  on  tho  scales  is  indistinct. 


146  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

front  and  upper  margin  of  the  dorsal  charged  with  clear  satin-white  pigment 
in  males  in  the  spring;  basal  half  of  dorsal  in  full  breeding  dress  light  green; 
lower  fins  lemon-yellow,  except  tips  of  ventrals  and  anal.  Head  small, 
subconic,  not  so  stout  as  in  the  last  species,  3.9  to  4.2  in  length;  profile  scarcely 
angled  at  nape;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.2;  interorbital  space  2.5  to  2.7  in  head, 
very  convex;  eye  small,  3.9  to  4.8  in  head;  nose  somewhat  longer  than  in  the 
last  species,  2.8  to  3.2  in  head,  conic  and  usually  more  or  less  upturned, 
especially  in  males;  mouth  slightly  less  oblique  than  in  the  last,  the  tip  of  the 
upper  lip  scarcely  above  level  of  lower  margin  of  orbit;  maxillary  longer  than 
eye,  reaching  to  back  of  posterior  nostril-opening,  but  not  to  orbit,  3.1  to 
3.6  in  head;  lower  jaw  shorter  than  upper;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth 
usually  1, 4-4,  1*,  the  edges  of  the  grinding  surface  often  more  or  less  crenate, 
intestine  .8  to  .9  times  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  silvery,  finely 
specked  with  black.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  set  a  little  behind  the  ventrals, 
its  longest  ray  usually  a  little  less  than  head,  in  which  it  is  contained  1.9  to 
1.2;  anal  rays  8  or  9;  pectorals  1.2  to  1.4  in  head,  about  %  to  ventrals  in  fully 
grown  specimens,  about  %  in  young  but  sexually  mature  males;  ventrals 
to  vent  in  females,  past  front  of  anal  in  males.  Scales  6,  36-39,  3;  14  to  16 
before  dorsal,  where  they  are  scarcely  crowded;  lateral  line  decurved  anteriorly 
to  about  parallel  with  lower  outline. 

Extremely  abundant  in  Illinois,  especially  in  the  smaller 
streams  of  the  central  part  of  the  state,  and  taken  in  270  of  our 
collections.  A  species  of  the  creeks  and  smaller  rivers  in  this 
state,  its  frequency  ratios  for  those  streams  being  approximately 
2J/2,  while  those  for  lakes  and  the  larger  rivers  are  but  .11  and 
.35  respectively.  It  shows  a  marked  preference  for  swift  water 
and  for  a  clean  bottom,  our  coefficients  for  these  situations  being 
1.3  and  1.6  respectively.  It  is  generally  distributed  from  Lake 
Champlain  and  the  St.  Lawrence  River  through  the  lakes  of 
central  New  York  and  the  Great  Lake  basin  to  Minnesota, 
Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  northern  Alabama,  and  Arkansas. 

Two  thirds  of  the  entire  food  of  33  specimens  examined,  con- 
sisted of  insects,  nearly  half  of  which  were  terrestrial.  Three  of 
our  specimens  had  eaten  small  fishes,  and  a  mixture  of  vegetable 
elements  derived  from  both  aquatic  and  terrestrial  plants  had 
been  eaten  mainly  by  four,  one  of  which  had  fed  only  on  algae, 
while  three  others  had  taken  some  90  per  cent,  of  their  food 
from  miscellaneous  plant  structures,  including  seeds,  anthers, 
and  pollen,  and  fragments  of  grass-like  vegetation. 

Females  apparently  about  to  spawn  have  been  taken  by  us 
from  May  21  to  June  12,  but  others  which  had  not  yet  deposited 
their  eggs  occur  in  our  collections  occasionally  up  to  the  middle 

*  Cases  of  apparent  N.  whipplii  in  which  the  teeth  are  4-4  or  1,  4-4,  1  occur  in  a  few  collec- 
tions from  localities  in  which  N.  lufrensis  and  N.  whipplii  seem  to  intergrade.  In  general  our 
collections  show,  however,  that  little  variation  need  be  looked  for  in  this  species. 


COMMON  SHINER,  Notropis  cornutus  (Mitchill) 


BLACKFIN,  Notropis  tiinbnitilis  atripes  (Jordan) 


NOTltOPJS  14f 

of  August.  Breeding  males  have  the  head  largely  tuberculate, 
together  with  a  pad-like  tuberosity,  closely  set  with  tubercles, 
on  the  snout.  The  scales  of  the  upper  part  of  the  sides  in  front 
of  the  dorsal  fin  are  likewise  tuberculate. 


NOTROPIS  CORNUTUS  (MITCHILL) 

COMMON    SHINER 
(MAP  XLI) 

Mitchill,  1817,  Am.  Month.  Mag.,  I,  289  (Cyprinus). 

G.,  VII,  249   (Leuciscus);   J.  &  G.,  186   (Minnilus),  192   (M.  plumbeolus);    M.  V.,  58 

(megalops);  J.  &  E.,  I,  281;  N.,  47  (Luxilus);  J.,  57  (Luxilus)  F.,  77  (megalops); 

L.,  17. 

This  species,  in  size  one  of  the  largest  of  our  minnows,  is  distinguished 
especially  by  the  great  depth  of  the  exposed  portions  of  the  scales  and  (in 
spring  males)  by  the  brilliant  and  more  or  less  mottled  salmon-pink  coloration. 
Length  5  to  8  inches;  body  elongate  in  the  young;  adults  shorter  and  much 
compressed,  the  sides  nearly  vertical;  depth  3.3  to  4.4  in  length;  anterior 
dorsal  region  gibbous  and  rather  swollen  in  adult  males;  caudal  peduncle 
rather  deep,  its  depth  1.6  to  2.3,  usually  less  than  2.1,  in  its  length.  Color 
of  midsummer  males  olivaceous  above  with  steel-blue  luster;  belly  and  lower 
part  of  sides  silvery;  a  broad  dark  vertebral  streak  and  a  faint  plumbeous 
lateral  band,  showing  as  gilt  when  seen  through  water;  scales  above  lateral 
line  thickly  specked  with  dusky,  with  narrow  edges  of  darker;  scales  along 
middle  of  each  side  partly  with  the  most  of  the  exposed  surface  unspecked 
bright  silvery  with  dusky  bases,  and  partly  wholly  dusky,  giving  rise  to  a 
mottled  appearance  which  is  most  accentuated  in  tV-e  breeding  season;  dorsal 
and  caudal  fins  somewhat  dusky,  other  fins  plain;  coloration  of  spring  males 
very  brilliant,  the  upper  parts  greenish  and  the  sides  a  rich  salmon-pink  over 
silvery,  with  mottlings  of  dusky  emerald;  females  and  young  are  plain 
olivaceous  above  and  silvery  below.  Head  3.8  to  4.2  in  length,  rather  large 
and  heavy,  compressed,  rounded  between  the  eyes,  the  muzzle  bluntish; 
width  of  head  1.9  to  2.1;  interorbital  space  2.6  to  3.1  in  head;  eye  rather 
small,  3.1  to  4.7  in  head,  usually  over  4  in  adults;  nose  much  longer  than  eye 
in  adults,  2.8  to  3.3  in  head;  mouth  moderately  large  and  oblique,  the  tip  of 
the  upper  lip  usually  very  little  above  level  of  lower  margin  of  orbit;  maxillary 
Yz  longer  than  eye  in  fully  grown  specimens,  2.9  to  3.2  in  head,  scarcely  reach- 
ing front  of  orbit;  lower  jaw  slightly  shorter  than  upper;  isthmus  less  than 
pupil.  Teeth  2,  4-4,  2,  with  rather  narrow  grinding  surface;  intestine  .9  to 
1.5  times  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  dusky  to  solid  brown.  Dorsal 
fin  with  8  rays,  set  usually  a  little  in  advance  of  the  ventrals  and  closer  to 
muzzle  than  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1  to  1.3  in  head;  anal  rays  9 
or  10,  usually  9;  pectorals  %  to  ^  to  ventrals,  1.2  to  1.5  in  head;  ventrals 
usually  not  reaching  vent.  Scales  6,  rarely  7,  37-40,  3,  rows  before  dorsal 
16  to  25;  always  much  deeper  than  long  on  the  flanks,  becoming  exceedingly 
so  in  adults;  longitudinal  rows  with  an  appearance  of  "running  out"  behind 
the  dorsal  fin;  lateral  line  complete,  decurved  anteriorly. 


148  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

This  common,  large,  and  well-known  minnow,  one  of  the 
most  conspicuous  in  our  series,  is  unequally  distributed  through- 
out the  state,  very  abundantly  so  in  its  northern  two  thirds.  It 
occurs  also  in  the  hill  streams  of  southern  Illinois,  but  is  nearly 
absent  from  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  whence  we  have 
taken  it  indeed  but  three  times — from  two  localities  on  the  Little 
Wabash  and  from  one  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Kaskaskia  at  the 
northern  boundary  of  this  area.  It  is  especially  a  minnow  of 
creeks  and  the  smaller  rivers — our  coefficients  for  which  are  3 
and  2.45  respectively — scarcely  ever  occurring  in  either  lakes  or 
the  larger  streams.  It  shows  also  a  marked  preference  for  clear 
waters,  which  corresponds  to  its  avoidance  of  the  lower  Illinoisan 
glaciation.  Its  coefficient  of  preference  for  a  clean  bottom  is  2.2. 
Outside  our  territory  it  is  reported  from  the  entire  eastern 
United  States  (including  the  Great  Lakes)  from  the  Rocky 
Mountains  to  the  Atlantic,  with  the  exception  of  Texas  and  the 
southeastern  region  from  the  Neuse  River  on  the  north  to  the 
Alabama  on  the  west.  It  also  ranges  into  Canada,  from  New 
Brunswick  and  the  River  St.  Lawrence  and  its  tributary  streams 
in  Quebec  to  the  Assiniboin  in  Manitoba. 

Somewhat  more  than  a  third  of  the  food  of  21  specimens 
examined  by  us  consisted  of  vegetable  objects,  a  large  per- 
centage of  which  were  algae,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  remainder 
was  insects,  both  aquatic  and  terrestrial,  the  former,  however, 
largely  preponderant.  A  single  specimen  had  eaten  only  fishes. 
The  crustacean  ratio  was,  as  usual,  insignificant.  A  single 
aquatic  worm  (Lumbriculus)  was  observed  in  one.  The  individ- 
uals of  this  little  collection  varied  widely  in  respect  to  the 
food  they  had  last  taken,  five,  for  example,  having  eaten  insects 
only,  while  two  had  eaten  little  or  nothing  but  algae  and  other 
vegetable  objects. 

Its  spawning  season  begins  about  May  1  and  continues  to 
the  last  of  June.  Spring  males  have  the  top  of  the  head,  the 
tip  of  the  snout,  and  the  predorsal  region  covered  with  rather 
large  tubercles.  This  minnow  takes  a  worm  or  a  grasshopper 
readily,  and  is  one  of  the  fishes  most  likely  to  be  found  on  a 
boy's  string.  Although  it  sometimes  grows  to  a  length  of  eight 
inches,  it  is  usually  too  small  to  be  of  importance  as  a  pan-fish, 
but  Dr.  Henshaw  recommends  it  as  the  best  live  bait  for  black 
bass. 


NOTROPIS  149* 

NOTROPIS  PILSBRYI  FOWLER 

Fowler,  1904,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  LVI,  245-247. 

Fishes  intermediate  between  those  forms  -  typified  in  Illinois  by  N. 
cornutus  on  the  one  hand  and  N.  atherinoides  and  rubrijrons  on  the  other, 
and  possessing  resemblances  to  both.  Readily  distinguished  from  the  first 
by  the  rounded  and  loosely  imbricated  scales  of  the  sides  and  by  the  backward 
insertion  of  the  dorsal  fin,  and  from  the  latter  by  the  difference  in  general 
proportions  (the  present  species  being  much  shorter  and  deeper),  and  by  the 
presence  (as  in  N.  cornutus)  of  a  broad  dark  streak  along  the  mid-dorsal  line. 

Length  2%  inches;  form  robust,  the  body  deep  in  front  of  dorsal  and 
moderately  compressed;  back  elevated,  the  upper  and  lower  outlines  tapered 
evenly  to  the  tip  of  the  pointed  snout,  much  as  in  Hybognathus  nuchalis; 
depth  4  to  4.4  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  but  little  shorter  than  head,  more 
slender  than  in  N.  cornutus,  its  depth  2.3  to  2.5  in  its  length.  Color  in  life 
not  known;  in  spirits,  a  dusky  olive  above,  the  scales  rather  densely  specked 
over  their  entire  surface  and  not  distinctly  dark-edged;  sides  below  lateral 
line  and  belly  silvery,  unspecked;  a  broad  dusky  band  along  side,  interrupted 
on  opercle  and  in  eye  (in  preserved  specimens),  but  faintly  apparent  before 
eye  to  end  of  snout,  tipping  chin;  a  broad  and  distinct  dark  vertebral  streak; 
dorsal  and  lower  fins  pale;  caudal  somewhat  dusky.  Head  conical,  4  to  4.3 
in  length,  the  muzzle  pointed  and  profile  slightly  angled  at  nape;  width  of 
head  2  to  2.1  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  nearly  flat,  2.9  to  3.1  in  head; 
eye  3.4  to  3.5  in  head,  slightly  less  than  snout;  nose  3.3;  mouth  rather  large, 
oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  above  lower  margin  of  orbit;  maxillary  longer  than 
eye,  2.8  in  head,  barely  reaching  front  of  orbit;  jaws  subequal;  isthmus  less 
than  pupil.  Teeth  2,  4-4,  2,  compressed  and  hooked,  the  grinding  surface 
developed  as  an  extremely  narrow  groove  on  at  least  two  of  the  teeth;  peri- 
toneum densely  and  coarsely  specked  with  brown.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays, 
inserted  distinctly  behind  ventrals,  its  first  ray  farther  from  muzzle  than 
base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.3  to  1.5  in  head;  anal  rays  9  or  10;  pectorals 
%  to  ventrals,  1.3  in  head;  ventrals  quite  reaching  vent.  Scales  6,  37  or 
38,  3  or  4,  large,  cycloid  and  loosely  imbricated,  not  notably  deeper  than 
long  on  sides  and  not  crowded  anteriorly;  the  rows  appearing  to  "run  out"  on 
back  behind  dorsal  as  in  N.  cornutus;  lateral  line  decurved  anteriorly,  com- 
plete; 15  scales  before  dorsal  fin. 

Sexual  differences  not  known,  the  three  specimens  from 
Illinois  which  were  taken  on  May  30  (1901;  Ac.  No.  28174) 
being  males  with  sexual  organs  considerably  developed  but 
without  tubercles. 

Found  in  this  state  only  from  the  East  Fork  of  the  Mazon 
River,  near  Gardner.  The  identity  of  this  species  with  N. 
pilsbryi  Fowler,  which  was  described  in  1904  from  the  White 
River  basin  in  Arkansas,  seems  open  to  no  question. 


150  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


FIG.  37 

NOTROPIS  JEJUNUS   (FORBES) 

(MAP  XLII) 

Forbes,  1878,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.  2,  60  (Episema). 
.J  &  G.,  194  (Minnilus);  M.  V.,  60;  J.  &  E.,  I,  290;  F.,  77;  L,.,  18. 

A  pale  silvery  minnow  of  rather  indefinite  characters,  in  form  resembling 
Hybognathus  nuchalis,  the  outline  being  fusiform,  with  dorsal  and  ventral 
contours  similar,  but  lacking  the  long  intestine  and  maxillary  protuberance 
of  that  species  and  with  the  head  rather  blunter.  Length  2  to  2^  inches; 
depth  3.8  to  5  in  length,  the  body  deepest  just  in  front  of  the  dorsal  fin; 
body  considerably  compressed,  the  greatest  width  about  %  the  greatest 
depth;  caudal  peduncle  somewhat  shorter  than  head,  its  depth  1.9  to  2.4 
in  its  length.  Color  pale,  the  sides  silvery  with  a  broad  plumbeous  band; 
lateral  scales  rather  coarsely  specked  with  black,  those  of  back  more  finely 
specked  over  their  entire  surfaces;  cross-hatching  most  evident  along  lateral 
line  and  below  it,  where  the  scales  are  pale  except  at  outer  edges;  a  dark 
vertebral  streak  but  no  caudal  spot;  cheeks  and  opercles  silvery  below,  steel- 
blue  to  cerulean  above;  a  conspicuous  splash  of  emerald  on  lateral  aspect  of 
occiput — just  behind  eye;  iris  silvery  with  some  lavender;  fins  all  plain. 
Head  3.8  to  4.5  in  length,  squarish  in  transverse  section  at  orbits,  being 
only  slightly  rounded  above;  width  of  head  1.7  to  2.2  in  its  length;  interorbital 
space  2.5  to  2.9  in  head;  eye  very  little  shorter  than  snout  in  adults,  3.2  to 
3.8  in  head;  nose  bluntly  conic,  3.1  to  3.6;  mouth  moderately  large,  very 
little  oblique,  the  tip  of  the  upper  lip  little  above  level  of  lower  rim  of  pupil; 
maxillary  2.8  to  3.4  in  head,  extending  hardly  to  front  of  orbit;  lower  jaw 
slightly  shorter  than  upper;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  usually  2,  4-4, 
2;  sometimes  1,  4-4,  1  or  various  intermediate  combinations;  grinding  sur- 
face, if  present,  narrow  and  irregular;  intestine  .9  to  1.2  times  length  of  head 
and  body;  peritoneum  silvery,  with  a  few  small  specks  of  dark  color.  Dorsal 
fin  with  8  rays,  occasionally  7,  set  as  a  rule  almost  directly  over  ventrals 
and  about  equidistant  between  muzzle  and  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal 
ray  1.1  to  1.4  in  head;  anal  rays  usually  7,  occasionally  6  or  8;  pectorals  short, 
1.1  to  1.4  in  head,  as  a  rule  less  than  %  to  ventrals;  ventrals  falling  distinctly 
short  of  vent.  Scales  5,  34-37,  3  or  4;  rows  before  dorsal  13  to  15;  scales 
rather  large,  thin,  and  round;  lateral  line  little  decurved. 


, 


1 

', 


NOTROPIS  151 

This  is  a  small  and  insignificant  species,  without  marked 
specific  characters,  obviously  limited  by  preference  to  the  larger 
rivers  (coefficient,  1.63)  and  apparently  avoiding  the  lower 
Illinoisan  glaciation.  It  occurs  also  in  considerable  numbers  in 
the  smaller  rivers  (1.12),  but  is  usually  scarce  in  creeks  and  only 
moderately  abundant  in  the  lowland  lakes.  In  Illinois  it  has 
occurred  in  51  collections,  rather  sparingly  distributed  along 
the  main  streams  and  in  their  neighborhood,  from  the  northern 
boundary  to  Cairo  and  from  the  Wabash  and  Ohio  to  the  Missis- 
sippi. It  is  reported  from  the  northern  Mississippi  Valley  at 
large,  and  from  the  Ohio  basin,  ranging  from  Kansas  and  western 
Pennsylvania  to  Wyoming  and  Winnipeg.  In  Pennsylvania 
it  occurs  only  in  the  Ohio  basin. 

The  species  is  too  small  to  be  of  any  importance  except  as 
food  for  larger  fishes. 

Its  breeding  season  is  apparently  late,  no  females  with 
swollen  ovaries  occurring  in  our  collections  until  the  last  of  June, 
and  specimens  loaded  with  eggs  being  found  by  us  as  late  as 
August  27.  The  sexual  differences  are  not  noticeable. 


NOTROPIS  ATHERINOIDES  RAFINESQUE 

SHINER 

(PL.,  P.  158;  MAP  XLIII) 

Raflnesque,  1818,  Am.  Month.  Mag.,  204. 

G.,  VII,  254  (Leuciscus  rubellus),  255  (L.  copii);  J.  &  G.,  202  (Minnilus  rubellus 
and  M.  dinemus);  M.  V.,  61;  J.  &  E.,  I,  293;  N.,  47  (Minnilus  dilectus  and 
amabilis),  48  (M.  rubellus  and  M.  dinemus);  J.,  60;  F.  F.,  I.  6,  86  (Minnilus); 
F.,  76  (dinemus,  part);  L.,  18  (also  arge  and  dilectus). 

A  common  slender  silvery  minnow  of  the  larger  rivers,  known  especially 
by  its  bright  silvery  color  and  by  the  posterior  insertion  of  the  dorsal  fin. 
Length  2^2  to  4^2  inches;  general  form  slender,  moderately  compressed, 
both  back  and  belly  about  equally  and  very  little  arched,  the  body  deepest 
in  front  of  dorsal  fin;  profile  from  dorsal  to  muzzle  a  gentle  convex  curve; 
depth  in  length  in  typical  specimens  4.9  to  5.5*.  Color  translucent  green 
above  (olivaceous) ;  sides  bright  silvery,  the  iridescent  emerald,  lavender,  and 
cerulean,  common  in  other  silvery  minnows,  being  scarcely  noticeable  in 
this  species;  scales  above  faintly  specked,  but  not  blotched  or  prominently 
dark-edged;  a  narrow  and  rather  faint  dark  vertebral  line,  and  a  faint  plum- 
beous lateral  band  from  opercle  to  caudal;  no  caudal  spot;  cheeks  and  opercles 

*  Specimens  in  some  collections  from  Illinois  have  the  depth  as  low  as  4  to  4.25  in  length, 
these  shorter  and  deeper  forms  seeming  to  grade  insensibly  into  the  typical  Blender  atherinoides. 


152  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

pure  silvery,  having  the  sheen  of  fine  silver-leaf;  iris  almost  pure  silvery; 
fins  all  pale,  transparent;  well  called  "shiner"  or  "silvery  minnow".  Head 
short  and  very  bluntly  conic,  4.1  to  4.8  in  length,  usually  about  4.5;  width 
of  head  2.1  to  2.4  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  2.9  to  3.3;  eye  about 
equal  to  snout  (larger  in  younger  specimens),  3  to  3.4  in  head;  nose  3.3  to 
3.6;  mouth  moderate,  terminal,  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  even  with  middle 
of  pupil;  maxillary  3  to  3.4  in  head,  scarcely  longer  than  eye,  nearly  reaching 
front  of  orbit;  jaws  subequal;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  2,  4-4,  2, 
occasionally  1,  4-4,  2  or  2,  4-4,  1;  the  masticatory  surface  a  very  narrow 
groove;  intestine  commonly  less  than  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum 
rather  densely  specked  with  black.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  set  well  behind 
ventrals,  the  distance  from  dorsal  to  caudal  not  more  than  78  to  85  per 
cent,  of  that  from  snout  to  dorsal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.1  to  1.2  in  head;  anal 
rays  9,  10,  or  11,  usually  10;  pectorals  short,  about  %  to  ventrals,  1.2  to  1.4 
in  head;  ventrals  not  reaching  vent.  Scales  rather  large  and  very  thin, 
6,  36-40, 3,  rows  before  dorsal  18  to  21;  lateral  line  decurved. 

Extremely  variable,  having  been  described  under  various  names  even 
from  our  own  state.  No  attempt  is  made  here  to  separate  the  forms 
atherinoides,  arge,  and  dilectus,  the  two  latter  of  which  should  probably  be 
regarded  as  synonyms  of  the  present  species.  It  appears  to  be  distinct  in 
our  collections  from  N..rubrifrons,  from  which  it  differs  in  its  shorter  head, 
shorter  maxillary,  larger  eye,  and  blunter  snout,  as  well  as  in  its  coloration 
and  faintly  developed  secondary  sexual  characters. 

This  graceful  and  attractive  species,  distinguished  by  a 
golden  lateral  stripe  on  a  clear  green  ground,  is  an  excessively 
abundant  and  active  minnow,  occurring  throughout  the  state, 
but  almost  strictly  confined  everywhere  to  the  larger  lakes  and 
rivers.  Among  our  collections  from  the  smaller  lakes  of  north- 
eastern Illinois  we  have  not  obtained  a  single  specimen  of  this 
species,  while  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan,  but  a  few  miles 
away,  were  swarming  with  them  along  the  shore,  and  especially 
about  the  wharfs.  There  they  are  captured  in  great  numbers, 
together  with  the  most  abundant  of  the  lake  species,  the  spot- 
tailed  minnow,  and  sold  for  bait.  Of  our  206  collections,  the 
greater  part  are  from  rivers,  2.14  being  the  coefficient  for  rivers 
of  the  second  class,  and  1.21  for  those  of  the  first  class.  The 
coefficient  for  creeks  is  .93,  and  that  for  lowland  lakes  is  .66,  our 
Lake  Michigan  collections  not  being  represented  in  this  series. 
The  distribution  map  of  the  state,  for  this  species,  shows  a 
curious  difference  between  southern  Illinois,  where  this  minnow 
occurs  mainly  in  the  creeks  and  smaller  rivers,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  state,  in  which  the  larger  streams  are  its  principal  resort. 
It  appears  to  have  a  moderate  preference  for  a  good  current  (1.19) 
and  for  a  clean  bottom  (1.22).  but  it  is  nevertheless  one  of  the 
species  which  enters  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation  freely.  It  is 


NOTROPIS  153 

distributed  throughout  the  state  in  fairly  equal  ratio,  although 
less  abundant  in  the  Illinois,  the  Kaskaskia,  and  the  Big  Muddy 
than  in  the  other  stream  systems.  It  is  one  of  the  small  number 
of  species  which  we  have  found  present  in  the  Michigan  drainage 
in  larger  ratio  (1.96)  than  in  any  other  section.  In  its  continental 
distribution  it  is,  on  the  whole,  a  northern  species,  its  general 
area  extending  from  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Lake  Champlain 
through  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Superior, 
the  Red  River  of  the  North,  and  the  Saskatchewan,  and  through 
the  Ohio  Valley  to  Tennessee  and  the  Washita  River  in  Kansas, 
and  up  the  tributaries  of  the  Missouri. 

It  moves  and  feeds  in  large  schools,  thousands  being  fre- 
quently seen  together  near  the  surface.  The  food  of  those  exam- 
ined by  us  (18  specimens,  all  from  the  northern  part  of  the 
state)  consisted  principally  of  insects,  nearly  two  thirds  of  which 
were  terrestrial  species,  and  the  remainder  chiefly  case-worms 
and  larvae  of  day-flies.  Six  of  the  specimens  had,  indeed,  eaten 
insects  only,  and  these  made  90  per  cent,  of  the  food  of  two 
others.  Three  taken  from  Peoria  Lake  in  October  had  eaten 
only  Entomostraca,  which  amounted,  in  fact,  to  the  unusual 
ratio  of  22  per  cent,  of  the  food  of  the  whole  group.  A  single 
specimen  had  taken  about  40  per  cent,  of  its  food  from  the 
thread  algae,  and  a  minute  fish  had  been  eaten  by  another. 

Females  greatly  distended  with  eggs  and  apparently  about  to 
spawn  have  been  collected  by, us  from  the  middle  of  May  to  the 
first  of  June.  The  sexual  differences  are  slight,  and  we  have 
seen  no  tuberculate  males. 

NOTROPIS  RUBRIFRONS   (COPE) 

ROSY-FACED   MINNOW 
(MAP  XLIV) 

Cope,  1865,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  85  (Alburnus). 

Q.,  VII,  255   (Leuciscus) ;    J.  &  G.,  202    (Minnilus  rubrifrons  and    M.   percobromus); 

M.  V.,  61  (dilectus);  J.  &  E.,  I.,  295;   N.,  47   (Minnilus);   J.,  60;   F.,  76  (dinemus, 

part) ;  K,  18. 

The  smaller  size,  darker  and  less  silvery  coloration,  shorter  and  deeper 
body,  longer  head,  longer  snout  and  maxillary,  and  smaller  eye,  as  well  as 
the  dense  tuberculation  and  flushed  color  of  the  head  and  predorsal  region 
in  spring  males  of  this  species,  will  serve  to  distinguish  this  from  the  last 
species  described.  Length  2%  inches;  body  moderately  elongate,  back  little 
elevated;  caudal  peduncle  slender,  its  depth  2.4  to  2.8  in  its  length;  depth  in 
length  4.8  to  5.8.  Color  of  upper  parts  rather  dark  olive,  the  scales  dark- 
edged;  sides  silvery  above  and  below  the  dark,  to  almost  black,  lateral  band; 


154  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

a  faint  and  narrow  dark  vertebral  streak;  fins  plain;  forehead,  opercles,  and 
predorsal  region  flushed  with  red  in  spring  males.  Hqad  long,  conic,  pointed, 
3.8  to  4.3  in  length,  its  width  2.3  to  2.6  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  little 
convex,  3  to  3.6  in  head;  eye  smaller  than  in  the  last  species,  3.2  to  3.6  in 
head  in  adults,  in  which  it  is  distinctly  less  than  the  maxillary;  nose  3  to 
3.4  in  head;  mouth  rather  large,  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  almost  at  top  of 
pupil;  maxillary  distinctly  longer  than  eye,  2.7  to  3.1  in  head,  reaching 
vertical  from  front  of  orbit;  jaws  subequal;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth 
2,  4-4,  2,  the  grinding  surface  slight  and  present  on  few  teeth;  intestine  .8 
to  .9  of  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  dusted  with  coarse  brown  specks. 
Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays  (occasionally  7),  set  well  behind  ventrals,  so  that 
distance  from  dorsal  to  caudal  is  74  to  81  per  cent,  of  that  from  muzzle  to 
dorsal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.3  to  1.5  in  head;  anal  rays  usually  10,  sometimes 
9  or  11;  pectorals  scarcely  %  to  ventrals,  1.2  to  1.5  in  head;  ventrals  usually 
short  of  vent.  Scales  6  (or  7),  36-40,  3;  rows  before  dorsal  17  to  21;  lateral 
line  decurved  anteriorly. 

The  rosy-faced  minnow  is  a  bright-colored  species  which 
delights  in  the  clear  waters  of  rapid  streams.  It  has  been  rare 
in  our  work,  occurring  only  in  the  Mississippi  drainage  of  the 
northern  third  of  the  state,  in  the  tributaries  of  the  Illinois,  the 
Rock,  and  the  Mississippi,  and  only  once  from  the  main  stream. 
It  is  a  species  of  northern  distribution,  ranging  from  the  lower 
St.  Lawrence  and  Lake  Champlain  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods, 
thence  southward  to  the  headwaters  of  the  James,  through  the 
Ohio  Valley  to  the  Alleghany  River,  and  to  the  tributaries  of 
the  Missouri  in  Kansas  and  Missouri.  In  Ohio  it  is  reported  by 
Osburn  as  occasionally  occurring  in  large  schools  over  clean 
gravelly  places  in  ripples,  the  females  ready  to  spawn  during  the 
latter  part  of  May — a  date  which  agrees  with  our  own  observa- 
tions in  Illinois.  The  spring  males  have  the  head  and  fore  part  of 
the  body  excessively  tuberculate,  and  there  are  sometimes  weak 
tubercles  on  the  same  parts  of  the  breeding  females  also. 

NOTROPIS  UMBRATILIS  ATRIPES   (JORDAN) 

BLACKFIN 
(PL,  P.  147;  MAP  XLV) 

Jordan,  1878,  Bull.  111.  St.  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.  2,  59,  (Lythrurus  atripes). 

J.  &  G.,  197  (Minnilus  atripes);  M.  V.,  61  (umbratilis) ;  J.  &  E.,  I,  300,  also  (?)  301 
(umbratilis  fasciolaris);  N.,  47  (Lythrurus  diplaemius);  J.,  59  (Lythrurus 
atripes  and  diplaemius);  F.,  76  (also  macrolepidotus)  and  Bull.  111.  St.  Lab.  Nat. 
Hist.,  II.  2,  138  (macrolepidotus);  L.,  18  (umbratilis). 

Fishes  with  the  dentition  and  the  elongate  anal  fin  of  Notropis  (e.  g., 
atherinoides  and  rubrifrons),  but  with  the  form  of  body  (deep  and  com- 
pressed) of  Cyprinella  (e.  g.,  N.  whipplii)  or  Moniana  (N.  lutrensis);  most 
easily  distinguished  from  the  fishes  of  the  first  subgenus  mentioned  by  the 


NOTROPIS  155 

deeper  and  more  compressed  body,  and  from  the  latter  by  the  smaller  scales, 
which  are  much  crowded  anteriorly.  Length  3  inches;  body  as  a  rule  rather 
deep  and  compressed,  the  depth  3.2  to  4.2  in  length;  profile  usually  angled 
at  nape  in  adults;  caudal  peduncle  less  than  head,  its  depth  1.7  to  2.4  in  its 
length.  Color  dark  purplish  blue  above,  greenish  blue,  not  silvery,  on  middle 
part  of  sides,  and  greenish  lower  down  and  on  belly;  a  dusky  lateral  band  on 
caudal  peduncle,  becoming  obsolete  forward:  scales,  except  on  belly,  dusted 
with  dark  specks  but  not  prominently  dark-edged;  dorsal  fin  with  a  more  or 
less  prominent  black  spot  at  its  base  in  front*;  anal  tipped  with  dusky  in 
males;  dorsal  with  or  without  a  dusky  bar  mesially;  spring  males  with  the 
dorsal  and  caudal  fins  greenish  at  base  and  bright  brick-  to  blood-red  out- 
ward; lower  fins  nearly  uniform  red,  the  pectorals  less  brilliant,  pinkish  or 
rose;  females  pale  olive,  plain.  Head  conic,  comparatively  pointed,  4  to 
4.1  in  length;  width  of  head  1.8  to  2.1;  interorbital  space  quite  convex,  2.2 
to  3  in  head;  eye  small,  shorter  than  snout,  3.4  to  4.2  in  head;  nose  2.8  to  3.3; 
mouth  moderate,  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  above  lower  margin  of  pupil; 
maxillary  2.7  to  3.2  in  head,  reaching  front  of  orbit;  jaws  about  equal;  isthmus 
less  than  pupil.  Teeth  2,  4-4,  2,  with  more  or  less  developed  grinding  sur- 
faces on  the  median  teeth  of  the  outer  row,  this  surface  narrow  and  either 
plane  or  concave;  intestine  .8  to  .9  of  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum 
silvery,  rather  sparsely  and  coarsely  specked  with  brown.  Dorsal  rays  8, 
the  fin  set  well  back  of  ventrals;  longest  dorsal  ray  1  to  1.1  in  head;  anal 
rays  10,  11,  or  12,  usually  11;  pectorals  more  than  %  to  ventrals;  ventrals 
to  or  past  vent.  Scales  9  or  10,  41  to  48,  4,  crowded  anteriorly,  the  rows 
in  front  of  dorsal  fin  26  to  30,  lateral  line  deeply  decurved. 

This  is  an  exceedingly  handsome  species,  especially  during 
the  breeding  season.  It  is  commonly  said  to  be  most  frequently 
seen  in  clear,  swift  streams.  Our  frequency  coefficient  for 
creeks  reaches,  in  fact,  the  extraordinary  number  of  3.9,  while 
that  for  the  smaller  rivers  is  1.9,  and  for  the  larger  rivers,  .16. 
In  lowland  lakes  we  have  found  it  but  once  in  549  collections, 
and  in  glacial  lakes  not  at  all.  On  the  other  hand,  109  collections 
for  which  we  have  the  necessary  data  give  us  a  frequency 
coefficient  of  1.76  for  still-water  situations  as  compared  with 
those  with  a  rapid  current — from  which  we  may  infer  that  in 
Illinois,  at  any  rate,  the  species  is  more  frequently  to  be  found 
in  quiet  waters  than  in  those  with  a  rapid  flow.  Our  similar 
data  concerning  cleanness  or  muddiness  of  bottom,  drawn  from 
69  collections  only,  give  us  no  evidence  of  any  definite  choice, 
the  corresponding  coefficient  being  1.01.  The  species  has  been 

*  Great  variation  in  color  is  found  in  our  specimens,  making  it  extremely  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish varieties.  We  have  included  all  Illinois  specimens  accordingly  under  the  oldest  name 
for  this  portion  of  the  range  of  this  wide-spread  and  variable  species.  Most  of  our  specimens 
have  the  dark  blotch  at  base  of  dorsal  prominent  and  anal  dusky  in  males  (atripes)  •  others,  but 
much  fewer  in  number,  have  the  spot  faint  or  obsolete  (macrohjndotns)  •  in  some  specimens  there 
are  distinct  traces  of  3  to  5  vertical  bars  of  dusky  on  back  portion  of  sides  and  fore  part  of  caudal 
peduncle  (fascwlaris?) . 


156  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

taken  by  us  208  times,  from  136  Illinois  localities.  Outside  the 
state  it  is  distributed  far  and  wide,  from  the  Great  Lakes  and 
the  smaller  lakes  of  New  York  to  the  Roanoke  River  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  and  to  the  Tombigbee  in  Alabama,  and  westward 
through  the  Ohio  Valley  to  the  Arkansas  and  the  tributaries  of 
the  Missouri  in  Kansas  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding  this 
wide-spread  general  occurrence,  its  distribution  in  this  state  is 
somewhat  peculiar,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that,  although  we  have 
collected  it  throughout  the  state,  our  records  of  its  occurrence 
are  several  times  more  numerous  from  the  eastern  half  of  Illinois 
than  from  the  western.  It  is  one  of  the  species  which  enters 
freely  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  and  is,  indeed,  much  more 
abundant  southward  than  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  state.  Its 
area  of  greatest  proportionate  abundance  in  our  collections  is  that 
containing  the  Big  Muddy,  the  tributaries  of  the  Wabash,  and 
the  small  rivers  and  creeks  of  extreme  southern  Illinois. 

Females  bursting  with  eggs  have  been  taken  about  the 
first  of  June,  together  with  spring  males  with  heads  profusely 
covered  with  small  tubercles  of  a  peculiar  whitish  tint.  Tuber- 
culate  males  have  occurred,  indeed,  in  our  collections  from  the 
middle  of  May  to  August  1. 

GENUS  ERICYMBA  COPE 

Body  elongate,  little  compressed;  muzzle  broad;  interorbitals,  suborbi- 
tals,  and  dentaries  containing  greatly  developed  mucus  channels,  which 
appear  externally  as  distinct  transverse  vitreous  streaks;  no  barbel;  premaxil- 
laries  protractile;  teeth  1,  4-4,  1  or  4-4,  without  grinding  surface,  hooked; 
intestine  short;  peritoneum  silvery;  dorsal  rays  8;  anal  8;  scales  about  35; 
lateral  line  continuous.  Size  small.  One  species  known. 

ERICYMBA  BUCCATA  COPE 

SILVER-MOUTHED   MINNOW. 

(MAP  XLVI) 

Cope,  1865,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  88. 

G.,  VII,  185;  J.  &  G.,  204;  M.  V.,  62;  J.  &  E.,  I,  302;   N.,  45;   J.,  61;   F.,  76;   K,  18. 

Small,  pale  silvery  to  straw-colored  fishes  with  an  elongate  and  de- 
curved  snout,  sufficiently  distinguished  from  all  other  Illinois  Cyprinidce  by 
the  externally  visible  mucus  channels  in  the  infraorbital  and  lower  jaw-bones. 
Length  3  to  4  inches;  body  fusiform,  rather  elongate  and  little  compressed, 
and  the  back  not  much  elevated;  profile  not  angled  at  nape,  being  a  gentle 
convex  curve  from  base  of  dorsal  to  tip  of  snout;  depth  4.1  to  5.2  in  length; 


EBICYMBA  157 

caudal  peduncle  as  a  rule  about  %  length  of  head,  slender,  its  depth  con- 
tained 2.2  to  2.9  in  its  length.  Color  pale  olive  above,  the  scales  rather  nar- 
rowly and  indistinctly  dark-edged;  sides  pale  silvery  with  bluish  reflections; 
a  dark  dorsal  streak  and  an  indistinct  plumbeous  lateral  band  developed 
posteriorly;  no  caudal  spot;  fins  all 
plain ;  cheeks  and  opercles  bright  silvery ; 
iris  silvery  below,  with  some  dusky 
above;  spring  males  without  bright 
colors.  Head  long  for  its  depth,  de- 
pressed above,  with  prominently  de- 
curved  muzzle;  chin  broad  and  flat; 
length  of  head  3.5  to  3.7  in  body  and 
head,  its  width  1.9  to  2.4  in  its  length; 
interorbital  space  nearly  flat  and  quite 

narrow,  3.5  to  3.9  in  head;  eye  3.3  to  FlG  38 

to  3.6  in  head;  suborbitals,  inter- 
opercles,  and  lower  jaw-bones  with  greatly  developed  mucus  channels, 
appearing  externally  as  vitreous  streaks;  nose  2.6  to  3  in  head,  always  dis- 
tinctly longer  than  eye;  mouth  small,  horizontal,  subinferior,  tip  of  upper 
lip  below  level  of  lower  margin  of  orbit;  maxillary  3.5  to  4  in  head,  not  reach- 
ing past  anterior  nostril-opening;  lower  jaw  much  shorter  than  upper; 
isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  4-4,  or  1,  4-4,  1,  rather  strongly  hooked, 
the  grinding  surface  somewhat  weakly  developed  as  a  narrow  groove  whose 
edges  are  smooth;  intestine  .9  to  1.0  times  length  of  head  and  body;  peri- 
toneum bright  silvery,  with  a  very  few  scattered  dark  specks.  Dorsal  fin 
with  8  rays,  set  nearly  directly  over  ventrals,  but  distinctly  nearer  tip  of 
snout  than  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.1  to  1.2  in  head;  anal  rays  8, 
sometimes  7;  pectorals  long,  reaching  nearly  to  ventrals;  ventrals  past  vent 
but  not  quite  to  front  of  anal.  Scales  5,  32-35,  3;  13  to  15  rows  before 
dorsal;  breast  without  scales;  lateral  line  nearly  straight. 

This  interesting  little  fish  is  especially  peculiar  because  of  the 
tubular  cavities,  the  so-called  mucus  canals,  in  the  bones  of  the 
side  of  the  head  and  the  lower  jaw.  It  has,  on  the  whole,  an 
easterly  distribution,  ranging,  according  to  Jordan  and  Ever- 
mann,  from  Michigan  and  western  Pennsylvania  to  Kansas  and 
southward  to  western  Florida.  In  our  collections  it  has  been 
limited  almost  wholly  to  the  central  eastern  part  of  the  state, 
occurring  chiefly  in  the  headwaterte  of  the  minor  tributaries  of 
the  Wabash  and  in  the  upper  course  of  the  Kaskaskia  River, 
and  in  the  tributaries  of  the  Iroquois  and  of  the  Sangamon. 
The  distribution  map  of  the  state  for  this  species  suggests  a 
relation  to  an  eastern  center,  and  an  extension  past  the  water- 
sheds from  the  tributaries  of  the  Wabash  to  the  headwaters  of 
adjacent  streams.  Our  74  collections  came  in  so  large  a  propor- 
tion from  the  smaller  streams  that  the  coefficient  of  frequency 
for  creeks  is  4.85,  and  that  for  the  smaller  rivers  is  1.06.  It  has 


158  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

occurred  to  us  from  first-class  rivers  but  once  in  293  collections, 
and  not  at  all  from  stagnant  waters  of  any  description.  It  has 
a  very  decided  preference  for  a  clean  bottom,  it  we  may  judge 
from  the  38  collections  of  the  species  made  for  which  data  of  this 
description  were  recorded,  its  frequency  coefficient  for  this  class  of 
situations  being  3.2.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact,  however,  that  the 
species  nevertheless  occurs  within  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation, 
particularly  in  the  headwaters  of  the  Kaskaskia  in  the  northern 
part. 

Females  apparently  near  spawning  condition  have  been 
taken  by  us  in  late  May  and  early  June.  The  sexual  differences 
are  not  well  marked,  and  the  males  have  neither  tubercles  nor 
brilliant  colors  in  spring. 

GENUS  PHENACOBIUS  COPE 

SUCKER-MOUTHED    MINNOWS 

Body  elongate,  little  compressed;  mouth  inferior,  the  lower  lip  thin 
mesially  and  enlarged  on  each  side  into  a  fleshy  lobe;  upper  jaw  protractile; 
no  barbel;  teeth  4-4,  hooked  and  with  grinding  surface;  intestine  short; 
peritoneum  silvery;  dorsal  rays  8;  anal  7;  scales  45  to  60;  lateral  line  com- 
plete. Length  3  to  4  inches,  the  adults  having  much  the  appearance  of 
young  suckers.  About  5  species  known,  confined  chiefly  to  the  central  and 
southeastern  United  States. 

PHENACOBIUS  MIRABILIS   (GIEABD) 

SUCKER-MOUTHED    MINNOW 
(MAP  XLVII) 

Girard,  1856,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  191   (Exoglossum). 

J.  &  G.,  205;   M.  V.,  63;  J.  &  E.,  I,  303;   N.,  46  (teretulus  lidsternus);   J.,  61  (scopife- 
rus);  F.  F.,  I.  6,  88  (scopiferus);   F.,  76;   K,  18. 

The  inferior  sucker-like  mouth,  thick  lips,  small  scales,  and  black  spot 
at  base  of  caudal  fin  in  this  species  will,  taken  together,  distinguish  it  from  all 

other  minnows  found  in  Illi- 
nois. Length  3^  inches; 
form  of  body  much  as  in  the 
common  red-horse  (Moxos- 

____       m^K     ^m^m_  toma  aureolum) , — the  inferior 

'"'  '^MS^j^^^HBI    ^S^&fi^H^teue^     mouth  and  fleshy  lips  adding 

to    .the    resemblance, — fusi- 
form,  the  back  moderately 
FIG.  39  elevated,  depth  4.6  to  5  in 

length;  Caudal  peduncle 

about  equal  to  head,  its  depth  2  to  2.2  in  its  length.  Color  olivaceous,  the 
sides  with  a  dull  silvery  luster  overlying  a  dusky  lateral  shade;  a  distinct 
black  caudal  spot  and  a  narrow  vertebral  streak,  golden  in  life,  when  the 


PHENACOBIUS — SUCKER-MOUTHED   MINNOWS  159 

shoulders  are  also  dusted  with  gold  specks;  belly  silvery;  all  scales  except 
those  of  belly  sprinkled  with  minute  black  specks  which  become  denser  at 
edges  of  scales;  cheeks  and  opercles  silvery  with  some  greenish;  pupil  brilliant 
black;  iris  with  a  wide  inner  rim  of  gold  above  and  silvery  below,  the  outer 
portion  being  variegated  light  or  dark  green  and  gold  with  some  silvery  below; 
fins  all  pale.  Head  subquadrate  in  transverse  section  and  flat  above,  short, 
3.9  to  4.5  in  length;  width  of  head  1.6  to  1.9  in  its  length;  interorbital  space 
flat,  2.7  to  3.3  in  head;  eye  small,  3.6  to  4.8;  nose  nearly  twice  length  of  eye, 
2.3  to  2.6  in  head;  mouth  very  small,  wholly  inferior  and  horizontal,  the 
tip  of  the  upper  lip  on  level  of  chin  and  breast;  maxillary  3.7  to  4.3  in  head, 
not  reaching  to  orbit;  lower  jaw  included;  upper  jaw  provided  with  a  fleshy 
lip  which  is  continuous  on  each  side  with  the  lower  lip,  forming  laterally  a 
somewhat  prominently  projecting  lobe;  the  two  lobes  of  the  lower  lip  separated 
at  the  middle  by  a  narrow  and  projecting  horny  frenum,  not  separated  from 
the  chin  by  either  a  groove  or  a  fold;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  4-4, 
hooked,  one  of  them  occasionally  with  a  narrow  grinding  surface;  intestine 
about  equal  to  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  plain  silvery.  Dorsal 
fin  with  usually  8  rays,  sometimes  7  or  9,  always  set  distinctly  in  front  of 
ventrals  and  nearer  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1  to  1.4 
in  head;  anal  rays  7;  pectorals  short,  reaching  little  more  than  half  way  to 
ventrals  in  fully  grown  specimens;  ventrals  a  little  -short  of  vent  in  adults. 
Scales  6,  43-51,  5;  rows  before  dorsal  18  to  22;  lateral  line  complete  and 
little  decurved. 

Owing  to  the  range  of  variation  in  size  of  scales  in  this  species,  we  have 
found  it  impossible  to  separate  this  and  P.  scopifer  in  our  collections,  and 
have  therefore  included  the  latter  species  in  the  synonymy  of  P.  mirabilis. 

This  little  fish  is,  in  Illinois,  upon  the  eastern  border  of  its 
range,  doubtless  extending  into  Indiana,  although  not  hitherto 
reported  from  that  state.  It  is  distributed  mainly  west  and 
south  through  Iowa  to  South  Dakota  and  through  Missouri  to 
the  Sabine  and  Trinity  rivers  emptying  into  the  west  Gulf. 
In  this  state  it  is  of  general  distribution,  occurring  in  all  our 
river  basins,  but  mainly  in  the  smaller  streams.  It  is  most 
abundant  with  us  in  creeks — where  its  frequency  coefficient 
rises  to  3.18 — and  in  the  smaller  rivers — 2.19.  In  the  larger 
rivers  its  coefficient  falls  to  .32,  and  in  lowland  lakes  to  .05. 
Although  we  have  taken  it  in  159  Illinois  collections,  it  has  not 
occurred  once  in  the  upland  glacial  lakes.  It  is  also  most  abun- 
dant here  in  swift  streams,  particularly  in  those  with  a  sandy 
bottom,  or  in  the  more  rapid  and  rocky  portions  of  somewhat 
sluggish  creeks.  The  corresponding  coefficients  are  1.32  for 
waters  with  a  rapid  flow,  and  1.36  for  those  with  a  clean  bottom. 

Nine  of  our  specimens  studied  with  reference  to  their  food 
were  found  to  have  eaten  little  but  the  aquatic  larvae  of  a  gnat- 
like  fly  (Chironomus) ,  which  is  abundant  on  the  bottom  and  under 


160  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

stones.  A  few  case-worms  (Phyrganeidce)  occurring  in  some 
similar  situations  were  the  only  other  important  element  of  the 
food,  of  which  insects  made  practically  98  per  cent.  Its  small 
inferior  mouth,  provided  with  fleshy  lips  something  like  those 
of  a  sucker,  enables  this  minnow  to  collect  readily  its  peculiar 
food,  in  respect  to  which,  as  well  as  in  its  favorite  haunts, 
it  bears  a  considerable  resemblance  to  the  darters.  In  the 
aquarium  it  rests,  like  a  darter,  upon  the  sand,  supported  by  its 
pectoral  fins,  the  head  moving  gently  up  and  down  with  the 
opening  and  closing  of  the  gills. 

Females  greatly  distended  with  eggs  were  taken  by  us  in  late 
May  and  early  June.  Spring  males  are  profusely  but  rather 
minutely  tuberculate  on  the  top  of  the  head,  on  the  opercles, 
and  on  the  back  and  upper  part  of  the  sides  to  the  posterior  end 
of  the  dorsal  fin. 


GENUS  RHINICHTHYS  AGASSIZ 

Body  elongate,  little  compressed;  mouth  small,  subinferior;  upper  jaw 
not  protractile,  the  upper  mesially  continuous  with  the  skin  of  the  forehead;  a 
small  barbel  at  tip  of  maxillary;  teeth  1  or  2,  4-4,  1  or  2,  hooked  and  without 
grinding  surface;  intestine  short;  peritoneum  dusky;  dorsal  rays  7  to  9;  anal  6 
or  7;  scales  60  to  70;  lateral  line  continuous.  Size  small,  3  to  5  inches. 
Species  few,  2  in  Illinois.  Active  fishes,  inhabiting  mountain  springs  of  the 
east  and  west  and  the  swifter  and  cooler  brooks  of  the  central  United  States. 


KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  RHINICHTHYS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

Snout  long-  and  prominent,  projecting  far  beyond  the  inferior  mouth,  less  than 
2%  in  head  and  more  than  twice  length  of  eye  in  adults cataractae. 

Snout  moderate,  projecting  little  beyond  the  mouth  (which  is  subterminal), 

more  than  2%  in  head,  and  not  over  1%  times  length  of  eye  in  adults 

atronasus. 


RHINICHTHYS  CATARACTS   (CuviER  &  VALENCIENNES) 

LONG-NOSED    DACE 

Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  1842,  XVI,  315   (Gobio). 

G.,  VII,   176    (Ceratichthys)    and   189    (Rhinichthys   marmoratus   and    R.    nasutus) ; 

J.  &  G.,  207;  M.  V.,  63;  J.  &  E.,  I,  306;   N.,  45  (nasutus  and  maxillosus) ;   J.,  62; 

F.(  75  (atronasus,  part). 

Distinguished  from  the  next  species  by  its  longer  snout,  longer  and 
much  projecting  upper  jaw,  more  elongate  body,  and  less  coarsely  mottled 
coloration.  Length  2^  inches;  depth  4.8  to  5.2  in  length;  caudal  peduncle 
as  long  as  or  longer  than  head,  its  depth  2.1  to  2.6  in  its  length.  Coloration 


RHINICHTHYS  161 

olivaceous,  paler  below;  sides  with  some  spots  and  splotches  of  dark  color, 
but  the  mottling  less  prominent  than  in  R.  atronasus;  back,  sides,  cheeks 
and  opercles,  and  caudal  peduncle  more  or  less  densely  punctulate  with 
dusky;  lateral  band  indistinct;  a  black  spot  on 
opercle;  fins  all  plain,  no  spot  at  middle  of  base 
of  dorsal  fin.  (Spring  males  with  lips,  cheeks, 
and  lower  fins  crimson. — Jordan  &  Evermann.) 
Head  long  and  greatly  narrowed,  the  pointed 
muzzle  very  prominent,  4  to  4.1  in  length;  width 
of  head  1.8  to  2.2;  interorbital  space  3.2  to  3.3 
in  head;  eye  4.8  to  5.6;  nose  long  and  pointed,  F 

twice  the  length  of  the  eye,  2.2  to  2.5  in  head; 

mouth  wholly  inferior  and  horizontal,  tip  of  upper  lip  half  way  between 
lower  margin  of  orbit  and  chin;  maxillary  2.9  to  3.1,  extending  a  little  past 
anterior  nostril;  lower  jaw  much  shorter  than  upper,  the  muzzle  projecting 
beyond  tip  of  chin  for  a  distance  nearly  equal  to  half  length  of  snout;  a  small 
maxillary  barbel;  isthmus  twice  diameter  of  orbit.  Teeth,  2, 4-4,  2;  peritone- 
um finely  but  not  very  densely  punctulate  with  brown.  Dorsal  fin  with  8 
rays,  set  behind  ventrals,  its  distance  from  muzzle  15  to  20  per  cent,  greater 
than  to  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.2  in  head;  anal  rays  7;  pectorals 
about  y%  to  ventrals,  1.1  to  1.3  in  head;  ventrals  short  of  front  of  anal,  pass- 
ing vent.  Scales  very  small,  7  to  10, 63-70, 7  or  8;  lateral  line  little  decurved. 

This  species,  although  very  wide-spread  and  abundant  under 
its  preferred  conditions,  has  been  very  rare  with  us,  being  repre- 
sented in  all  our  collections  by  only  four  specimens,  one  obtained 
near  Waukegan,  in  northeastern  Illinois,  and  three  from  Big 
creek,  near  the  town  of  Anna,  in  Union  county,  in  the  extreme 
southern  part  of  the  state.  It  generally  prefers  clear,  cold 
streams — a  fact  sufficient  to  account  for  its  scarcity  within  our 
limits.  It  ranges  very  widely  north,  south,  east,  and  west,  from 
New  Brunswick  and  the  Province  of  Quebec  through  the  Great 
Lakes  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri  in  Montana,  northward 
to  the  Saskatchewan,  and  across  the  mountains  to  the  Columbia 
River,  southward  along  the  Atlantic  coast  to  the  Potomac  and 
the  James,  and  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  the  Rio 
Grande.  It  is  said  to  occur  also  in  the  Great  Salt  Lake  basin 
of  Utah. 


1G2  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

RHINICHTHYS  ATRONASUS  (MITCHILL) 

BLACK-NOSED    DACE 

Mitchill,  1815,  Trans.  Lit.  and  Phil.  Soc.  N.  Y.,  I,  460  (Cyprinus). 
G.,  VII,  191;   J.  &  G.,  208;   M.  V.,  63;   J.  &  E.,  I,  307;    N.,  45,  also  46   (lunatus  and 
meleagris);  J.,  63  (obtusus  and  meleagris);  F.,  75  (part);  L,.,  18. 

Length  1}/±  inches;  body  moderately  elongate,  very  little  compressed; 

depth  4.5  to  5  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  rather  short  and  deep,  less  than 

head,  its  depth  1.7  to  2.1  in  its  length.     Color 

_~— 7-";7.:      dusky  to  blackish  aboye,  the  back  and  sides 

variously  mottled  with  darker;  a  black  band 

^    -..  along  sides,  through  eye  to  end  of  snout,  be- 

x  -  low  which  is  a  paler  streak;  belly  silvery;  a 

distinct  black  blotch  at  base  of  dorsal  be- 
hind; dorsal  otherwise  and  all  other  fins  plain; 
spring  males  with  the  lower  fins  and  often 
pIG  41  almost  entire  body  more  or  less  blood-red, 

this  color  becoming  obsolescent  by  midsum- 
mer. Head  pyramidal,  subquadrate  in  transverse  section,  being  a  little 
wider  than  deep;  length  of  head  3.6  to  4.2  in  head  and  body,  its  width  1.7 
to  2  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  flat,  2.8  to  3.1;  eye  small,  4.3  to  4.9;  nose 
long  and  projecting,  but  not  decurved,  both  nostrils  lying  well  in  upper  half 
of  head;  length  of  nose  2.7  to  3  in  head;  mouth  rather  small,  subterminal, 
slightly  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  as  high  as  lower  margin  of  orbit;  maxillary 
shorter  than  in  the  last  species,  3.3  to  4  in  head,  usually  over  3.6,  reaching 
scarcely  past  anterior  nostril;  a  minute  maxillary  barbel;  lower  jaw  included; 
isthmus  twice  width  of  orbit.  Teeth  2,  4-4,  2;  peritoneum  silvery  except 
high  up,  where  it  is  dusky.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  set  distinctly  behind 
ventrals,  15  to  20  per  cent,  farther  from  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal;  longest 
dorsal  ray  1.3  to  1.4  in  head;  anal  rays  7;  pectorals  about  %  to  ventrals, 
1.3  to  1.5  in  head;  ventrals  past  base  of  anal  in  adult  males.  Scales  9  to 
11,  62-71,8  to  10;  lateral  line  complete,  little  decurved. 

This  species,  widely  distributed  like  the  preceding,  extends 
from  New  Brunswick  and  the  rivers  of  northeastern  Quebec 
through  the  Hudson  and  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  James  and  the 
Roanoke,  to  the  Dakotas  in  the  northwest,  and  through  the  Ohio 
basin  to  Iowa  and  northern  Alabama.  We  have  found  it  in  only 
six  Illinois  collections,  all  but  one  in  the  clear  swift  brooks  of  the 
northern  part  of  the  state.  The  northern  Illinois  localities  re- 
ported are  Oregon,  Ogle  county,  Bailey's  creek  and  other  streams 
of  La  Salle  county,  Big  Rock  creek  and  Little  Rock  creek,  near 
Piano,  in  Kendall  county,  the  lakes  about  Henry,  in  Marshall 
county,  and  Farm  creek,  near  Peoria.  We  have  also  two  speci- 
mens from  Big  creek,  near  Anna,  in  Union  county,  in  extreme 
southern  Illinois. 


HTBOPSIS  163 

This  is  an  active  fish,  decidedly  preferring  clear  rocky  streams. 
Breeding  males  were  taken  about  Ottawa  in  June.  It  has  been 
seen  to  spawn  in  shallow  running  water,  piling  pebbles  up  about 
the  nest  after  the  eggs  are  deposited.  Spring  males  have  the 
front  of  the  head  and  the  occipital  region  finely  tuberculate. 

GENUS  HYBOPSIS  AGASSIZ 

Body  robust  or  elongate;  mouth  terminal  or  inferior;  a  barbel  always 
present,  terminal  on  the  maxillary  (in  one  species  there  are  2  barbels  on  each 
side);  premaxillary  protractile;  teeth  4-4, or  1,  4-4,  1  or  0,  hooked  and  with 
grinding  surface  narrow  or  obsolete;  intestine  short;  peritoneum  pale,  dusky, 
or  black;  dorsal  rays  7  or  8;  anal  6  to  8;  scales  35  to  60;  lateral  line  con- 
tinuous. Species  numerous,  about  17;  5  in  Illinois.  A  large  and  varied 
group,  embracing  both  small  species  from  2^  to  5  inches  in  length  and  larger 
forms  up  to  a  length  of  10  or  12  inches.  United  States  east  of  the  Rockies; 
one  species  from  California. 

HYBOPSIS  HYOSTOMUS   (GILBERT) 

Gilbert,  1884,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  203  (Nocomis). 
M.  V.,  64;   J.  &  E.,  It  316;  L,.,  19  (part). 

Very  small  minnows  with  an  inferior  mouth,  and  with  barbel  ^  to  Yi  as 
long  as  snout,  easily  distinguished  among  Illinois  Cyprinidce  by  their  small 
size,  elongate  eye,  posteriorly  placed  mouth  (tip  of  lower  lip  under  first 
nostril),  and  rusty-  to  blackish-punctulate  coloration.  Length  of  our  largest 
specimens  1%  inches;  body  moderately  elongate,  subfusiform,  little  com- 
pressed, heaviest  forward  of  dorsal  fin;  depth  4.9  to  6.2  in  length;  caudal 
peduncle  slender,  its  depth  2.5  to  2.8  in  its  length.  Color  silvery,  every- 
where more  or  less  dusted  with  brownish  specks;  similar  but  larger  specks, 
suggesting  rust-spots  in  preserved  material,  found  on  nose,  suborbitals,  and 
opercles;  fins  all  pale.  Head  rather  long,  3.7  to  4,  its  width  2  to  2.1  in  its 
length;  interorbital  space  nearly  flat,  3.5  to  4  in  head;  eye  2.8  to  3.4,  ellip- 
tical, its  long  diameter  1%  to  1^  times  its  short;  nose  2.7  to  3.1,  about  as 
long  as  eye,  broad,  bluntly  pointed  and  decurved,  projecting  nearly  half 
its  length  beyond  the  mouth;  mouth  wholly  inferior  and  horizontal,  tip  of 
lower  lip  directly  under  first  nostril;  maxillary  3.3  to  3.8  in  head,  reaching 
past  front  of  orbit;  barbel  long,  2  to  3  in  snout;  isthmus  less  than  pupil. 
Teeth  4-4,  rather  strongly  hooked,  the  grinding  surface  extremely  narrow 
or  not  at  all  developed;  peritoneum  silvery,  with  some  rather  coarse  specks 
upward.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  rarely  7,  set  about  over  ventrals  and 
equidistant  between  muzzle  and  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.1  to 
1.3  in  head;  anal  rays  7  or  8,  usually  7;  pectorals  more  than  %  to  ventrals; 
ventrals  past  vent.  Scales  5,  34-36, 4;  14  before  dorsal;  lateral  line  decurved. 

Sexual  differences  not  noted,  our  specimens  being  few  and  probably 
not  fully  grown. 


164  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

Taken  by  us  in  only  three  collections — from  the  Rock  River 
at  Erie,  from  Green  River  at  Cleveland,  and  from  the  Illinois 
River  at  Naples.  The  first  two  came  from  fairly  swift  water 
running  over  rock  and  gravel.  The  species  is  said  to  be  rather 
common  in  sandy  river  channels  from  Iowa  and  southern  Illinois 
southward  to  the  Alabama  River.  It  ranges  also  westward  and 
northward  in  the  Missouri  to  Nebraska  and  Minnesota. 


HYBOPSIS  DISSIMILIS  (KIBTLAND) 

SPOTTED    SHINER 
(MAP  XLVIII) 

Kirtland,  1840,  Bost.  Jour.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ill,  341   (Luxilus). 

G.,  VII,  177  (Ceratichthys);  J.  &  G.,  215  (Ceratichthys) ;   M.  V.,  64;   J.  &  E.,  I.  318; 
N.,  45   (Ceratichthys);   J.,  62   (Ceratichthys);    P.,  74   (Semotilus) ;   L.,  19. 

Known  from  H.  amblops,  which,  of  our  species,  it  most  resembles,  by 
its  more  slender  body,  smaller  eye,  and  more  or  less  mottled  coloration. 

Length  3  inches;  body  long  and  slender, 
subfusiform,  little  compressed,  depth  4.7 
to  5.3  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  slender, 
about  equal  to  the  head,  its  depth  2.3  to 
2.8  in  its  length.  Color  olivaceous,  the 
sides  silvery;  a  more  or  less  distinct 
bluish  lateral  band,  most  evident  poste- 
.  42  riorly,  in  places  widened  or  broken  into 

blotches;  back  and  sides  marked  with 
irregularly  X-shaped  splotches  formed  by  dark  punctulations  on  the  scales; 
a  dusky  band  through  eye  to  end  of  snout;  fins  plain.  Head  somewhat  long 
flattish  above,  3.9  to  4.2  in  length,  its  width  1.9  to  2.2  in  its  length ;  interorbital 
space  3.3  to  3.9;  eye  3.1  to  3.8,  little  elliptical;  nose  2.4  to  2.7  in  head,  bluntly 
pointed  and  somewhat  decurved,  projecting  little  beyond  the  mouth;  mouth 
horizontal,  inferior,  tip  of  lower  jaw  as  far  in  front  of  anterior  nostril  as  that 
is  in  front  of  eye;  length  of  maxillary  3.6  to  4.3  in  head,  reaching  to  anterior 
nostril;  barbel  usually  rather  less  than  diameter  of  pupil;  isthmus  wide,  its 
breadth  equal  to  diameter  of  orbit.  Teeth  4-4,  with  very  narrow  grinding 
surface;  intestine  1  to  1.5  times  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  black. 
Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  set  distinctly  in  front  of  ventrals,  and  about  equidistant 
between  tip  of  snout  and  base  of  caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.1  to  1.3  in  head; 
anal  rays  7;  pectorals  about  %  to  ventrals;  ventrals  to  vent.  Scales  5  or  6, 
38-47, 4  or  5;  14  to  17  rows  before  dorsal;  lateral  line  complete,  nearly  straight. 

No  females  with  eggs  found  in  our  collections,  which  are 
few,  and  mostly  taken  in  midsummer  or  after.  Males  with 
organs  apparently  well  developed,  but  without  tubercles,  taken 
in  the  middle  of  June. 


HYBOPSIS  165 

An  uncommon  species  in  this  state,  its  known  localities  being 
one  on  the  lower  Kaskaskia,  one  on  the  upper  Embarras  in  Coles 
county,  one  on  the  Sangamon  in  Macon  county,  one  on  the  Kick- 
apoo  in  Logan  county,  one  on  Spoon  River  in  Fulton  county,  and 
four  on  Rock  River,  in  Lee  and  Winnebago  counties.  In  north- 
ern Illinois  it  has  been  taken  chiefly  in  swift  water  flowing 
over  sand.  Outside  the  state  it  is  to  be  found  from  Lake  Erie 
to  the  headwaters  of  the  Tennessee,  west  to  Arkansas  and  Iowa, 
and  north  to  the  Saskatchewan  River  and  to  Calgary. 

HYBOPSIS  AMBLOPS  (EAFINESQUE) 

BIG-EYED  CHUB;  SILVER  CHUB 
(MAP  XLIX) 

Raflnesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  51  (Rutilus). 

Q.,  VII,  179    (Ceratichthys  hyalinus);    J.   &   G.,  214    (Ceratichthys) ;    M.  V.,   64;    J.   & 
E.,  I,  320;   J.,  62   (Ceratichthys);   F.,  75   (Semotilus) ;   L.,  19. 

Length  2  to  3  inches;  a  small  but  rather  robust  species,  the  body  less 
slender  and  more  compressed  and  the  eye  larger  than  in  H.  dissimilis;  depth 

4.6  to  5.2  in  length,  being  greatest  in 
the  predorsal  region;  caudal  peduncle 
rather  slender,  its  depth  2.2  to  2.5  in 
its  length.  Color  olivaceous,  overlaid 
above  with  translucent  greenish  and 
with  silvery  on  sides;  scales  above  lateral 
line  everywhere  finely  punctulate,  only 
FIG.  43  indistinctly  dark-edged;  a  dusky  to 

blackish  lateral  stripe  continued  forward 

through  eye  to  end  of  snout;  no  vertebral  streak  or  caudal  spot;  fins  all  plain; 
males  and  females  similarly  colored.  Head  3.6  to  3.9,  broad  and  flattened 
above;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  3  to  3.9  in 
head;  eye  large,  usually  longer  than  interorbital  space  or  snout,  2.8  to  3.1 
in  head;  muzzle  bluntly  decurved,  the  nose  2.9  to  3.4  in  head,  projecting 
sometimes  as  much  as  width  of  pupil  beyond  mouth;  mouth  small,  hori- 
zontal, inferior,  the  tip  of  the  lower  jaw  little  in  advance  of  first  nostril; 
maxillary  3.6  to  4.6  in  head,  usually  reaching  to  vertical  from  front  of  orbit; 
barbel  variable,  usually  rather  small,  sometimes  scarcely  discernible,  and 
as  a  rule  not  projecting  below  cheek;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  1,4-4, 
1,  occasionally  4-4  or  with  the  supernumerary  tooth  absent  on  one  side; 
teeth  stoutish  towards  base,  with  a  very  small  and  sharp  hook;  grinding 
surface  not  much  developed;  intestine  shorter  than  head  and  body;  peri- 
toneum coarsely  specked  with  brown.  Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  set  as  a  rule 
almost  directly  over  ventrals  about  equidistant  between  muzzle  and  base  of 
caudal;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.1  to  1.3  in  head;  anal  rays  7  or  8;  pectorals  about 
%  to  ventrals;  ventrals  to  vent.  Scales  5,  35-38,  4  or  5;  12  to  15  rows  in 
front  of  dorsal;  lateral  line  nearly  straight. 


166  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Males  without  tubercles  or  flushed  coloration  in  spring.  Females  much 
distended  with  eggs  taken  about  first  of  June. 

This  is  one  of  our  Illinois  species  whose  distribution  in  the 
state  presents  an  ecological  problem  which  we  have  no  present 
means  of  solving.  Ranging  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  Black  Warrior 
and  the  Alabama  southward,  and  to  Iowa  and  Arkansas  on  the 
west,  it  occurs  abundantly  in  southeastern  Illinois,  but  has  been 
taken  by  us  in  only  two  neighboring  localities  additional,  one  on 
the  upper  Kankakee  and  the  other  on  the  Mackinaw.  It  is  one 
of  the  species,  in  fact,  which  has  the  appearance  of  spreading  over 
the  state  from  the  south  and  east  mainly  by  the  branches  of  the 
Wabash,  but  reaching  adjacent  waters  as  if  by  overland  migra- 
tion. It  is  notably  a  species  of  creeks,  for  which  its  frequency 
coefficient  rises  to  the  unusual  figure  of  3.97.  We  have  found  it 
relatively  about  half  as  abundant  in  the  smaller  rivers,  and  of 
only  occasional  occurrence  in  rivers  of  the  larger  class.  None  of 
our  51  collections  has  been  taken  from  stagnant  waters  of 
any  kind. 

HYBOPSIS  STORERIANUS   (KIRTLAND) 
STOKER'S  CHUB 

(MAP  L) 

Kirtland,  1842,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  71  (Rutilus). 

J.  &  G.,  213   (Ceratichthys  lucens);    M.  V.,  65;     J.    &    E.,    I,    321;     N.,    46;     J.,    56 
(Alburnops);  L.,  19. 

A  large  species,  known  at  once  from  our  other  species  of  Hybopsis  by 
the  double-rowed  dark  edging  of  the  scales  above  the  lateral  line.  Length 
5  or  6  inches;  body  elongate,  considerably  compressed;  back  often  somewhat 
elevated;  depth  4.3  to  5.3  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  rather  slender,  its 
depth  2.2  to  2.6  in  head.  Color  translucent  greenish  above,  with  purplish 
reflections;  brilliantly  silvery  on  sides  and  below;  an  indistinct  plumbeous 
lateral  band,  overlaid  in  life  with  emerald,  below  which  is  a  band  of  silvery 
to  bluish  blending  with  the  silvery  of  belly;  no  caudal  spot  and  no  vertebral 
streak;  scales  above  lateral  line,  except  a  few  along  middle  of  back  in  front 
of  dorsal  fin,  each  with  two  subparallel  rows  of  dark  dots  near  posterior 
border,  between  which  is  a  crescentic  lighter  space;  cheeks  and  opercles 
bright  silvery;  fins  plain,  the  dorsal  and  caudal  sometimes  slightly  dusky. 
Head  4.3  to  5.3  in  length,  comparatively  short  and  compressed,  cheeks 
nearly  vertical;  width  of  head  1.8  to  2;  interorbital  space  entirely  flat  or 
somewhat  concave,  3.3  to  3.5;  eye  2.9  to  3.4  in  head;  preorbital  bone  especially 
prominent,  large,  oblong,  and  silvery;  nose  2.8  to  3.1,  a  little  longer  than 
eye,  moderately  decurved,  the  tip  of  the  muzzle  somewhat  thickened  and 
pad-like,  though  not  projecting  much  beyond  mouth;  mouth  rather  small, 


HYBOPSIS  167 

inferior  and  horizontal,  tip  of  upper  lip  far  below  level  of  lower  margin  of 
orbit;  maxillary  3.2  to  3.7  in  head,  barely  reaching  front  of  orbit;  barbel 
evident,  though  scarcely  projecting;  isthmus  less  than  pupil.  Teeth  1, 
4-4,  1  or  0,  stout  and  little  hooked,  with  grinding  surface  usually  not  much 
developed;  intestine  about  .9  of  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  silvery. 
Dorsal  fin  with  8  rays,  occasionally  9,  more  or  less  falcate,  set  a  little  in 
advance  of  ventrals,  and  distinctly  closer  to  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal; 
longest  dorsal  ray  1  to  1.2  in  head;  anal  rays  usually  8,  sometimes  7  or  9; 
pectorals  %  or  less  to  ventrals;  ventrals  to  vent  in  young  only.  Scales  6, 
37  to  40,  4;  14  to  16  rows  in  front  of  dorsal;  upper  longitudinal  rows  with 
appearance  of  running  out  behind  dorsal  fin,  as  in  Notropis  cornutus,  this 
appearance  aided  by  converging  longitudinal  lines  formed  by  connecting 
cross-marks  of  light  color  on  the  scales  of  some  of  the  rows;  lateral  line 
gently  decurved  anteriorly. 

Sexual  differences  slight;  upper  surface  of  pectoral  rays  in  spring  males 
with  very  fine  pectinately  disposed  tubercles;  no  sexually  mature  females 
in  our  collections;  some  rather  young  females  with  ovaries  just  beginning 
to  enlarge  taken  about  May  20. 

A  fish  of  the  larger  streams  and  lowland  lakes,  widely  dis- 
tributed in  Illinois,  though  rare  with  us  throughout  its  range. 
Our  28  collections  carry  it  from  Cairo  to  Jo  Daviess  county  and 
from  the  Wabash  to  the  Mississippi.  None  of  them,  however, 
are  from  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation.  One  collection  is  from 
the  Rock  River  near  Milan,  seven  come  from  the  Illinois  and  its 
larger  tributaries,  an  equal  number  are  from  the  Mississippi  and 
its  neighboring  lakes  and  bayous,  five  from  the  Wabash  and  its 
tributaries,  three  from  the  Saline  River,  and  two  from  the  Ohio. 
Outside  Illinois  it  is  generally  distributed  from  Lakes  Erie  and 
Ontario  to  Wyoming,  Nebraska,  and  Arkansas,  ranging  south- 
ward also  to  Tennessee. 

HYBOPSIS  KENTUCKIENSIS   (EAFINESQUE) 
RIVER  CHUB;  HORNY-HEAD 

(MAP  LI) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  48  (Luxilus). 

G.,  VII,  178  (Ceratichthys  biguttatus  and  C.  cyclotis)  and  179  (C.  stigmaticus  and 
C.  micropogon);  J.  &  G.,  212  (Ceratichthys  biguttatus  and  C.  micropogon); 
M.  V.,  65;  J.  &  E.,  I,  322;  N.,  45  (Ceratichthys  biguttatus);  J.,  62  (Ceratichthys 
biguttatus);  F.  F.,  I.  6,  89  (Ceratichthys  biguttatus);  F.  75  (Semotilus  bigut- 
tatus); L.,  19. 

A  large  species,  with  a  general  resemblance  in  form  to  Semotilus,  but 
the  snout  more  pointed,  mouth  less  oblique,  and  with  no  caudal  spot  (except 
in  young).  Length  6  to  8  inches;  body  subfusiform,  very  little  compressed, 
robust  anteriorly,  the  body  deepest  in  front  of  the  dorsal  fin;  profile  scarcely 
declined  from  front  of  dorsal  to  occiput  in  adults,  the  descent  from  that 
point  to  muzzle  rapid;  depth  3.9  to  4.5;  caudal  peduncle  less  than  head,  its 


168  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

depth  1.9  to  2.1  in  its  length.  Color  of  top  of  head  and  back  a  rich  green, 
darkest  at  edges  of  scales;  below  this  a  narrow  and  more  or  less  indefinite 
band  of  much  lighter  green,  extending  forward  on  iris  above  pupil  and  on 
opercle  as  yellowish;  passing  forward  through  pupil  and  ending  behind  in 
a  faint  caudal  spot,  is  a  more  or  less  indistinct  dark  lateral  band;  lower  part 
of  sides  and  belly  yellowish  to  pearly  gray;  sides  everywhere  with  coppery 
and  greenish  reflections;  on  each  side  of  head  behind  eye  a  spot  of  pale  red 
about  size  of  pupil,  most  brilliant  in  spring  males;  a  curved  dusky  bar  behind 
opercle;  dorsal  and  caudal  fins  with  membranes  orange  except  at  tips,  the 
edges  being  bluish  gray;  anal  orange  in  the  membranes;  other  fins  plain; 
breeding  colors  brighter,  red  spots  on  sides  of  head  accentuated  in  males; 
very  young  specimens  with  a  prominent  black  lateral  stripe  passing  around 
snout  forward  and  ending  behind  in  a  pronounced  caudal  spot.  Head  3.6 
to  3.8  in  length,  conical,  top  of  head  and  cheeks  quite  rounded;  width  of 


FIG.  44 

head  1.8  to  2;  interorbital  space  2.6  to  2.9';  eye  very  small,  4.1  to  5.6  in  head; 
nose  sharp,  scarcely  decurved,  2.4  to  2.9;  mouth  rather  large,  subterminal, 
not  very  oblique,  the  tip  of  the  upper  lip  about  half  way  between  lower 
margin  of  orbit  and  lower  edge  of  cheek;  maxillary  3  to  3.6  in  head,  not 
quite  reaching  to  front  of  eye ;  lower  j  aw  shorter  than  upper ;  breadth  of  isthmus 
nearly  equal  to  diameter  of  orbit;  barbel  as  a  rule  evident,  though  usually 
not  projecting  beyond  cheek,  occasionally  discernible  only  with  difficulty. 
Teeth  variable,  usually  4-4  in  our  specimens,  though  not  infrequently  1, 
4-4,  1  or  0;  on  pharyngeal  jaws  from  eight  well-preserved  specimens,  which 
were  all  carefully  examined  for  lost  or  broken  teeth,  the  following  com- 
binations were  found;  1,4-4,  1;  0,4-4,  1;  1,4-0,  3;  0,4-1,  3;  0,2-1,  4;0,  2-1, 
3;  intestine  1.1  to  1.4  in  length  of  head  and  body;  peritoneum  dusky.  Dorsal 
fin  with  8  rays,  placed  almost  exactly  over  the  ventrals,  a  little  nearer  base 
of  caudal  than  muzzle;  longest  dorsal  ray  1.3  to  1.4  in  head;  anal  rays  7; 
pectorals  somewhat  over  %  to  ventrals;  ventrals  to  vent  in  males,  short  of 
it  in  females.  Scales  6  or  7,  39  to  44,  5;  17  to  22  rows  before  dorsal  fin; 
lateral  line  complete  or  nearly  so,  gently  decurved  anteriorly. 

This  fish  is  of  particular  interest  to  us  because  of  the  pecu- 
liarity of  its  distribution  in  this  state.  Although  it  occurs 
throughout  the  Great  Lakes  from  Michigan  to  Ontario,  and 
from  Wyoming  to  Pennsylvania  and  southward  to  North  Caro- 


HYBOPSIS  169 

lina  and  Alabama,  our  collections  in  the  state  of  Illinois  are 
limited  to  the  more  recently  glaciated  areas,  only  one  having 
been  made  by  us  below  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Wisconsin 
glaciation.  Against  this  single  locality  in  southern  Illinois 
(Union  county)  we  have  122  localities  in  the  northern  two  thirds 
of  the  state,  where  the  species  is  not  only  abundant  but  is 
generally  distributed,  mainly  in  the  smaller  streams  and  also  in 
the  glacial  lakes  of  the  northeastern  section.  We  have  taken  it 
from  Lake  Michigan  at  Chicago. 

According  to  our  137  collections  of  the  horny-head,  it  is 
almost  wholly  a  species  of  the  creeks  and  smaller  rivers,  the 
frequency  coefficient  for  the  first  being  3.08  and  for  the  second 
2.47.  It  has  been  so  rare  in  stagnant  waters  that  we  have  taken 
it  but  twice  in  our  591  collections  from  lakes  and  ponds.  From 
the  larger  rivers  we  have  obtained  it  6  times  in  293  collections. 
It  seems  to  be  with  us  especially  a  fish  of  swift  waters  and  a 
hard  bottom,  the  coefficient  for  the  former  class  of  situations 
being  1.38  and  for  the  latter  2.24.  It  is  consistent  with  this 
fact  that,  although  commonly  scattered  throughout  the  Wis- 
consin glaciation,  it  stops  short  at  the  southern  boundary  of 
this  area,  not  entering  the  lower  Illinoisan  at  any  point. 

The  spawning  season  of  this  species  is  late  May  and  early 
June.  In  spring  males  the  top  of  the  head  is  swollen  to  form 
a  kind  of  crest,  which  may  be  considerably  higher  than  the 
level  of  the  neck,  and  is  covered  with  large  tubercles. 

The  length  of  ten  inches  which  this  fish  sometimes  attains, 
perhaps  accounts  for  the  rather  prominent  appearance  of  craw- 
fishes in  its  food.  Thirteen  specimens  from  northern  and  central 
Illinois  had  derived  less  than  half  their  food  from  the  animal 
kingdom,  about  a  fourth  of  it  consisting  of  insects,  largely  case- 
worms  and  other  larvae  of  Neuroptera,  another  fourth  of  craw- 
fishes, eaten  by  two  of  the  specimens.  The  vegetable  food  was 
about  equally  divided  between  thread  algse  and  seeds  of  grasses. 
Although  insects  appear  in  relatively  small  ratio,  two  of  these 
fishes  had  eaten  nothing  else,  and  another  had  eaten  95  per 
cent,  of  aquatic  larvae.  Two  other  specimens  had  taken  only 
vegetation,  which  also  composed  80  per  cent,  of  the  food  of 
three  additional.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  alimentary  canal 
of  this  minnow  is  of  more  than  average  length,  a  fact  probably 
related  to  its  vegetarian  habit.  As  a  game  fish,  according  to 
Jordan  and  Evermann,  it  is  the  most  active  and  vigorous  of  its 
tribe.  "Any  sort  of  hook  baited  with  an  angleworm  or  white 

—20  F 


170  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

grub  is  a  lure  the  horny  head  can  seldom  resist,  and  he  bites 
with  a  vim  and  energy  worthy  of  a  better  fish.  The  fight  he 
makes,  though  it  would  not  wholly  satisfy  the  veteran  black 
bass  angler,  is  quite  enough  to  fill  the  youthful  Walton  with 
unbounded  joy  and  pride.  But  as  his  experiences  widen  his 
chief  interest  in  the  hornyhead  lies  in  the  fact  that  it  is  one  of 
the  best  of  live  baits  for  nobler  fish.  For  muskallunge,  pickerel, 
wall-eyed  pike,  and  black  bass  of  either  species,  as  a  live  bait  it  is 
not  surpassed;  large  individuals  for  muskallunge  and  increasingly 
smaller  ones  for  the  others,  those  for  the  small-mouthed  black 
bass  being  not  over  3  to  5  inches  in  length.  A  hardy,  active  min- 
now, and  of  an  attractive  color,  as  a  live  bait  it  is  unsurpassed. " 

GENUS  PLATYGOBIO  GILL 

Body  elongate,  somewhat  compressed;  head  short,  broad,  and  depressed; 
mouth  subterminal;  a  well-developed  barbel  at  back  of  maxillary;  teeth  2, 
4-4, 2,  with  narrow  grinding  surface;  dorsal  8;  anal  8;  scales  45  to  50;  lateral 
line  continuous.  Length  6  to  12  inches.  Species  few,  confined  principally 
to  the  east  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  one  species  found  in  Illinois. 


FIG.  45 
PLATYGOBIO  GRACILIS   (RICHARDSON) 

FLAT-HEADED    CHUB 

Richardson,  1836,  Fauna  Bor.  A'mer.,  Fishes,  120  (Cyprinus). 

G.,  VII,   240    (Leuciscus  gracilis),   267    (Leucosomus   communis)    and   268    (Leucoso- 

mus  gulonellus);   J.  &  G.(  219,  also  220   (pallidus   Forbes);    M.  V.,  65;    J.  &  E., 

326;    I-1.,  75   (pallidus);   L.,  20   (pallidus). 

A  silvery  minnow  with  a  broad,  flat  head,  fine  scales,  and  an  evident 
barbel  terminal  on  the  maxillary.  Length  of  our  largest  specimens  3  inches; 
specimens  10  to  12  inches  long  known  from  the  waters  of  the  upper  Missouri; 
body  rather  elongate,  the  depth  5.1  to  5.4  in  the  length;  adults  much  more 
slender  than  young;  caudal  peduncle  slender,  its  depth  2.1  to  2.4  in  its  length. 


PLATYGOBIO  171 

Color  plain  silvery,  with  a  plumbeous  luster  along  sides,  and  traces  of  a 
dusky  lateral  stripe  behind  dorsal;  fins  all  plain;  young  with  sides  more  or 
less  punctulate  with  brown,  suggesting  the  appearance  of  Hybopsis  hyostomus. 
Head  4  to  4.3,  broad  and  depressed  and  fiat  above,  its  width  1.6  to  1.7  in 
its  length;  interorbital  space  2.2  to  2.5;  eye  small,  3.9  to  4.6*;  nose  2.7  to  3.1 
in  head,  blunt,  the  muzzle  overhanging  the  inferior  mouth;  mouth  rather 
large,  nearly  horizontal,  tip  of  upper  lip  below  level  of  lower  margin  of  orbit; 
barbel  prominent,  as  a  rule  extending  below  cheek;  lower  jaw  shorter  than 
upper;  isthmus  narrow,  scarcely  wider  than  pupil.  Teeth 2, 4-4, 2, hooked 
and  with  masticatory  surface;  peritoneum  bright  silvery.  Dorsal  fin  with 
8  rays,  set  a  little  in  front  of  ventrals  and  nearer  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal; 
longest  dorsal  ray  1  to  1.1  in  head;  anal  rays  8,  occasionally  9;  pectorals 
long,  pointed,  %  to  ^5  to  ventrals;  ventrals  nearly  to  vent.  Scales  6, 50-55, 
5,  crowded  forward,  21  to  23  rows  before  dorsal;  lateral  line  complete,  very 
little  decurved. 

Sexual  differences  not  well  known,  probably  not  strongly  marked.     A 
young  male  taken  by  us  from  the  Ohio  River  had  the  snout  tuberculate. 

This  is  a  northwestern  species  whose  occurrence  once  within 
the  limits  of  this  state  is  to  be  taken  as  little  more  than  an  acci- 
dent. Some  20  specimens  were  collected  by  us  in  1880  from  the 
Ohio  River  at  Cairo,  but  it  has  not  been  otherwise  reported  from 
any  point  east  of  the  Mississippi.  Its  territory  of  general  dis- 
tribution extends  throughout  the  Missouri  River  and  its  tribu- 
taries as  far  down  as  Kansas  City,  and  thence  to  the  Saskatche- 
wan, Assiniboin,  Athabasca,  and  McKenzie  rivers,  in  the  Do- 
minion of  Canada.  A  careful  comparison  of  P.  pallidus  Forbes 
with  specimens  of  the  present  species  obtained  by  Dr.  Meek 
from  the  Missouri  River  at  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  leads  us  to  con- 
clude that  the  two  are  identical,  such  differences  as  are  manifest 
being  probably  due  to  the  immature  condition  of  the  Ohio 
River  specimens. 

This  is  said  to  be  a  fish  of  the  river  channels,  and  is  not 
known  to  ascend  small  streams.  It  is  especially  characteristic 
of  the  shallow  alkaline  creeks  of  the  Northwest. 


*  Up  to  6  in  adults,  according  to  Jordan  and  Evermann. 


172  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


OBDER  NEMATOGNATHI 

THE    CATFISHES 

Skeleton  bony;  four  anterior  vertebrae  coossified,  modified,  and  fur- 
nished with  a  chain  of  small  bones  (Weberian  ossicles)  connecting  the  air- 
bladder  (if  present)  with  the  auditory  organ;  ventral  fins  abdominal;  dorsal 
and  pectorals  each  with  a  single  spine;  pectoral  arch  suspended  from  the 
skull;  a  mesocoracoid  arch  present;  suboperculum  wanting,  or  modified  into 
the  uppermost  branchiostegal;  premaxillary  forming  border  of  mouth  (except 
in  the  genus  Diplomystes,  of  Chili),  the  maxillary  being  often  rudimentary 
and  supporting  the  base  of  a  barbel;  air-bladder,  if  present,  with  open  duct 
(physostomous).  A  large  group,  comprising  some  1,200  species  and  150 
genera,  found  in  the  fresh  waters  of  both  hemispheres  and  of  all  the  continents, 
few  species  being  marine;  most  abundant  in  the  Amazon  region.  Most 
species  are  naked-skinned,  although  the  numerous  small  forms  of  the  South 
American  family  Loricariidce*  have  the  sides  and  back  armored  with  rough 
bony  plates. 

FAMILY  SILURID^E 

THE    CATFISHES 

Body  more  or  less  elongate,  naked  or  covered  (in  many  South  American 
forms)  with  bony  plates;  no  true  scales;  lateral  line  usually  present;  skeleton 
osseous;  4  anterior  vertebrae  modified,  and  furnished  (in  forms  in  which  air- 
bladder  is  developed)  with  a  chain  of  small  bones  (Weberian  ossicles)  con- 
necting the  air-bladder  with  the  ear;  ventral  fins  abdominal;  anterior  rays 
of  dorsal  and  pectorals  usually  spinous;  an  adipose  fin  usually  present;  tail 
not  heterocercal;  mesocoracoid  present;  gill-openings  generally  wide;  sub- 
operculum wanting,  or  modified  into  the  uppermost  branchiostegal;  margin 
of  upper  jaw  formed  by  premaxillaries  only;  teeth  in  jaws  in  broad  bands; 
lower  pharyngeals  separate;  air-bladder  usually  present,  simple,  with  open 
duct,  connected  (see  above)  with  the  organ  of  hearing  by  Weberian  ossicles. 

This  family  is  very  large  and  widely  distributed,  embracing 
about  700  species,  found  chiefly  in  fresh  water,  in  all  parts  of  the 
globe.  Catfishes  are  most  abundant  in  tropical  and  subtropical 
regions.  Some  species  grow  to  a  very  large  size,  and  all  except 
the  very  small  forms  are  of  more  or  less  value  as  food.  The 
giant  "sheatfish,"  or  "wels,"  of  Europe,  which  is  abundant  in 
the  Danube,  reaches  a  weight  of  300  to  400  Ib,  being  next  after 
the  sturgeons  the  largest  European  fish.  There  are  in  the  United 
States,  Canada,  and  Mexico  upwards  of  35  species  of  catfishes, 

*  Some  tropical  Siluridce  are  imperfectly  mailed. 


SILUEID^ — THE    CATFISHES  173 

three  genera  and  12  species  of  which  are  found  in  the  waters  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  no  catfishes 
are  found  indigenous  to  the  waters  of  the  United  States  west  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  although  several  species  have  recently 
been  introduced  there  by  the  United  States  Fish  Commission. 
No  extinct  forms  of  importance  are  known.  A  few  remains 
have  been  recovered  from  the  lower  and  middle  Eocene  and 
Tertiarjr.  The  evidence  from  paleontology  (chiefly  the  absence 
of  fossils)  and  from  the  anatomy  of  the  living  forms,  indicates 
that  the  catfishes  are  a  recent  group,  derived  doubtless  from 
scaly  ancestors,  and  probably  related  to  the  Characinidce  or 
Cyprinidce. 

The  catfishes  are  mainly  dwellers  in  more  or  less  muddy 
water,  making  their  home  most  of  the  time  upon  the  bottom  and 
chiefly  feeding  there.  Agreeably  to  this  habit,  their  eyes  are 
small,  and  their  cuticular  sensory  organs  are  highly  developed. 
The  family,  taken  together,  is  nearly  omnivorous  in  habit,  and 
their  alimentary  structures  have  a  corresponding  generalized 
character.  The  capacious  mouth,  the  wide  oesophagus,  and  the 
short,  broad  stomach  admit  objects  of  relatively  large  size  and 
of  almost  any  shape.  The  jaws,  each  armed  with  a  broad  pad 
of  fine  sharp  teeth,  are  well  calculated  to  grasp  both  hard  and 
soft  bodies.  The  gill-rakers  are  of  average  number  and  develop- 
ment, and  the  pharyngeal  jaws — broad,  stout  arches  below  and 
oval  pads  above,  with  their  opposite  surfaces  covered  with 
minute,  pointed  denticles — serve  well  to  crush  the  crusts  of 
insects  and  the  shells  of  the  smaller  mollusks.  The  indifference 
of  several  of  the  species  to  the  past  history  or  the  present  con- 
dition of  their  food  distinguishes  them  as  the  most  important 
scavengers  among  our  common  fishes.  With  the  eel,  they  are 
to  be  considered  among  the  most  destructive  enemies  of  shad  in 
the  streams  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  as  is  proven  by  the  contents 
of  stomachs  of  many  specimens  taken  over  the  spawning  grounds 
of  that  fish.  Most  of  the  species  are  nocturnal,  remaining  more 
or  less  sluggish  throughout  the  day.  In  winter  they  appear  to 
take  little  or  no  food.  Their  extreme  tenacity  of  life  and  om- 
nivorous habit  favor  their  multiplication  in  almost  any  kind 
of  situation,  often  enabling  them  to  survive  through  drought 
or  other  hardships  to  which  all  their  neighbors  succumb. 

All  except  the  smaller  catfishes,  the  stonecats,  are  used  for 
food,  and  the  best  of  them  rank  well  among  river  fishes  for  edible 
qualities.  The  bullheads  are  mostly  consumed  locally,  as  pan- 


174  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

fish.  The  larger  catfish  keep  well  in  cold  storage  and  may  be 
shipped  great  distances  in  ice  alive,  frozen  in  the  cake.  Small 
quantities  are  smoked  in  Chicago  and  St.  Louis  and  at  other 
points  in  the  middle  Mississippi  Valley,  as  a  substitute  for  the 
higher-priced  smoked  sturgeon.  The  smoked  product  was  50,- 
000  Ib  in  1898.  The  larger  species  are  taken  in  seines  and 
fyke-nets,  while  the  bullheads  are  most  commonly  caught  on 
set-lines.  The  larger  catfishes,  as  well  as  the  bullheads,  will 
bite  readily  at  the  hook.  The  catfish  catch,  including  bullheads, 
for  the  state  of  Illinois  was  1,500,000  Ib  in  1899,  while  that  for 
the  Illinois  River  and  its  tributaries  in  1903  was  999,000  Ib.* 
Statistics  of  the  Illinois  River  Fishermen's  Association  for  1899 
showed  a  catch  of  241.000  Ib  of  the  larger  catfishes  (Ictalurus) 
and  of  499,100  Ib  of  bullheads. 

Catfishes  are  well  adapted  for  stocking  ponds  and  sluggish, 
muddy  streams.  Their  ready  acclimatization  has  led  to  their 
successful  introduction  into  the  streams  of  Europe  and  the 
Hawaiian  Islands.  Local  species  have  been  introduced  in  the 
streams  of  the  Pacific  coast  and  are  now  thriving  there.  The 
United  States  Commissioner  of  Fish  and  Fisheries  has  said 
(Rep.  1903,  p.  83)  that  "both  commercial  fishermen  and  anglers 
throughout  the  country  are  showing  increased  interest  in  cat- 
fishes,  and  requests  for  stocking  public  and  private  waters  have 
recently  been  numerous. "  It  is  thought  that  it  will  not  be  long 
before  the  government  undertakes  the  establishment  of  a 
breeding  station  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  need  indicated 
by  such  requests. 

By  Igoking  to  the  numbers,  food,  habits,  endurance,  methods 
of  reproduction,  and  local  and  ecological  distribution  of  our  cat- 
fishes  and  bullheads,  and  to  their  means  of  defense  and  offense, 
we  may  form  a  more  or  less  definite  idea  of  their  place,  signifi- 
cance, and  efficiency  in  the  general  scheme  of  fresh- water  life, 
and  thus  be  enabled  to  see  something  of  the  consequences  which 
would  necessarily  follow  if  they  were  to  be  generally  destroyed. 

By  their  ability  to  live  contentedly  in  situations  commonly 
avoided  by  most  other  fishes,  they  organize  into  their  living  sub- 
stance much  food  material  which  would  otherwise  disappear  as  a 
mere  natural  waste,  and,  in  so  far  as  they  are  themselves  eaten  by 
other  fishes,  they  thus  increase  the  general  supply  of  fish  food  in 

*  In  1894  the  total  catch  for  tho  interior  waters  of  the  United  States  (23  states)  was  14,726,000 
Ib,  Illinois  coming  first  with  nearly  two  million  pounds  and  Iowa  next  with  985,000  ft.  The 
total  for  the  United  States  (17  states)  had  fallen  to  7,648,000  ft  in  1899  ami  to  5,191,000  ft 
in  1903. 


SILUEID^ — THE   CATFISHES  175 

the  waters  they  enter  and  inhabit.  By  their  services  as  scaven- 
gers, they  help  to  protect  more  sensitive  fishes  from  the  effects 
of  the  pollution  of  the  water  through  a  decomposition  of  objects 
which  they  are  themselves  very  willing  to  devour,  and  in  this 
way  also  they  may  convert  into  a  form  acceptable  to  other 
fishes  food  substances  otherwise  useless.  As  we  have  found 
them  to  be  eaten  more  or  less  by  both  our  species  of  black  bass, 
by  the  sand-pike  (Stizostedion  canadense),  and  by  the  yellow 
bullhead  and  the  mud-cat,  their  utility  in  this  sense  seems 
appreciable. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  must  be  noticed  that  they  have  ap- 
peared very  rarely  in  the  food  of  fishes,  in  comparison  with  their 
numbers  and  general  distribution.  Only  nine  fishes  out  of  more 
than  1,200  examined  had  eaten  them,  while  45  of  these  same 
fishes  had  eaten  more  or  less  freely  of  a  single  species  of  another 
family— the  gizzard-shad.  Reviewing  the  food  of  the  catfishes 
themselves,  it  seems  to  us  clear,  from  our  present  data,  that  they 
devour  other  fishes  much  more  generally  than  others  devour 
them — that  whatever  tends  to  their  multiplication  and  contin- 
uance tends  rather  to  diminish  the  number  of  other  species  in 
our  waters  than  to  increase  them.  Their  partial  immunity  is 
doubtless  due  in  considerable  measure  to  their  remarkable 
defensive  apparatus  of  stiff,  acute,  projecting,  poisoned  spines 
in  the  pectoral  and  dorsal  fins,  weapons  capable  of  inflicting 
really  painful  punctures  in  animals  as  large  as  man.  These 
fin-spines  are  evidently  an  advantageous  substitute  for  the 
defensive  armor  of  scales  which  our  catfishes  have  lost  in  the 
course  of  their  evolution. 

The  nocturnal  habits  of  catfishes  must  also  contribute  to 
their  protection  from  predaceous  enemies,  and  the  wide  range 
of  their  dietary  enables  them  to  exist  in  much  larger  numbers 
than  would  be  possible  if  their  choice  of  food  were  more  restricted. 
Where  one  kind  fails  them  for  a  time  they  may  find  an  abundance 
of  another.  Their  power  to  crush  the  shells  of  many  mollusks 
and  to  reject  the  fragments  gives  them  access  to  a  means  of 
subsistence  very  abundant  in  many  of  the  waters  which  they 
inhabit,  and  available  to  but  few  other  fishes,  and  their  habit 
of  leading  and  guarding  their  young  of  course  greatly  increases 
their  chances  of  survival. 

Our  catfishes  are  not  by  any  means  all  of  equal  habit,  or  of 
similar  distribution  and  geological  relationship.  The  stonecats 
remain  the  size  of  minnows  and  the  channel-cats  are  among  the 


176  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

heaviest  of  the  fishes  of  our  great  rivers.  The  former  lurk,  like 
darters,  under  stones  in  small  streams,  and  the  latter  spend  their 
time  in  the  deeper  waters  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Illinois. 
The  species  of  Ictalurus  prefer  clear  water  and  a  strong  current, 
while  certain  of  the  bullheads  thrive  in  stagnant  pools,  exposed 
to  the  vicissitudes  of  the  overflow  and  retreat  of  the  waters 
upon  the  river  bottoms,  and  liable,  indeed,  to  destruction  by 
the  complete  drying  out  of  the  ponds  in  which  they  often  become 
imprisoned.  If  they  succeed  in  living  there,  however,  until 
the  next  overflow,  they  add  by  so  much  to  the  average  catfish 
population  of  the  streams.  Even  these  bullheads,  so  like  that 
the  species  can  be  distinguished  with  difficulty,  diminish  mutual 
competition  by  difference  of  ecological  preference,  and  a  con- 
sequent different  local  distribution.  The  yellow  and  black 
bullheads,  for  example,  are  commonest  in  creeks  (frequencies, 
2.22  and  2.25),  and  the  brown  bullhead  in  lakes  and  ponds 
(frequency,  1.36);  and  the  first  two,  notwithstanding  their 
similar  situations,  have  been  taken  together  by  us  less  frequently 
than  either  of  the  other  two  pairs,  indicating  some  difference  of 
local  preference  within  the  limits  of  their  like  more  general  dis- 
tribution. The  three  more  abundant  stonecats  also  plainly 
evade  each  other,  Noturus  flavus  and  Schilbeodes  miurus  by  a 
different  general  distribution  within  the  state,  and  both  of 
these  avoiding  S.  gyrinus  by  a  difference  of  ecological  prefer- 
ence, being  most  abundant  in  clear  swift  waters,  while  gyrinus 
is  found  most  frequently  in  quiet  waters  over  a  mud  bottom. 
By  all  these  various  characteristics  of  structure,  habit,  prefer- 
ence, and  capacity,  the  family  is  remarkably  adapted  to  life 
in  our  interior  waters,  and  its  predominance  in  them  is  thus 
easily  understood. 

KEY  TO  THE  GENERA  OF  SILURID^E  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Adipose  fin  with  its  posterior  margin  free. 

b.  Premaxillary  band  of  teeth  without   lateral   backward   extensions;    anal   rays 

17  to  35,  including  rudiments. 

c.  Bony  bridge  from  occiput  to  dorsal  fin  complete;  tail  deeply  forked. .  .Ictalurus. 
cc.     Bony  bridge  from  occiput  to  dorsal  fin  broken;    caudal  fin  typically  rounded, 

truncate  or  slightly  emarginate  (forked  in  A.  lacustris) Ameiurus. 

bb.  Premaxillary  band  of  teeth  with  a  backward  extension  on  each  side;  anal 

rays  12  to  15,  including  rudiments Laptops. 

aa.  Adipose  fin  adnate  to  the  back,  continuous  with  the  caudal  and  separated 

from  it  only  by  a  notch. 

d.  Premaxillary  band  of  teeth  with  lateral  backward  extensions,  as  in  Leptops; 

skin  thick,  tough,  and  villose,  not  translucent Noturus. 

dd.    Premaxillary  band  of  teeth  truncate  at  the  ends,  as  in  Ameiurus;   skin  thin- 
ner than  in  d,  smooth  or  very  finely  villose,  sometimes  translucent 

.    Schilbeodes. 


ICTALURUS — CHANNEL-CATS 


177 


41; 


FIG.  46-49 

Premaxillary  teeth  of  (46)  Ameiurus  melas   (47)  Leptops  olivaris, 
(48)  Noturus  flavus,  and  (49)  Schilbeodes  gyrinus. 

GENUS  ICTALURUS  KAFINESQUE 

CHANNEL-CATS 

Body  elongate,  slender,  compressed  posteriorly.  Head  typically  slender 
and  conical;  broad  in  a  single  species,  anguilla,  which  approaches  the  genus 
Ameiurus.  Supraoccipital  process  produced  backward,  its  emarginated  end 
receiving  the  acuminate  anterior  point  of  the  second  interspinal,  thus  form- 
ing a  continuous  bony  bridge  from  the  head  to  the  dorsal  spine.  Mouth 
small,  terminal,  the  upper  jaw  longer.  Teeth  subulate,  in  a  short  band 
on  each  jaw.  Anal  fin  long,  with  25  to  35  rays.  Caudal  fin  elongate,  more 
or  less  deeply  forked,  the  lobes  pointed.  Coloration  usually  pale,  bluish 
olive  to  silvery. 

Fresh  waters  of  North  America;  4  species  known,  all  being 
large,  more  or  less  active,  species  of  the  river  channels.*  These 
are  the  true  "catfishes,"  in  distinction  from  the  bullheads 
(Ameiurus)  and  the  mud-cat  (Leptops) .  They  are  the  best  of 
the  family  as  food. 


KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  ICTALURUS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Anal   fin  of  from   30   to  35  rays,   including  rudiments,   its   free   margin    nearly 

straight;   eye  low,  nearer  lower  than  upper  surface  of  head;    color  bluish  or 

silvery,  usually  without  specks furcatus. 

aa.  Anal  fin  shorter,  of  24  to  29  rays,  including  rudiments,  its  free  margin 
rounded;  eye  above  median  axis  of  body,  nearer  upper  than  lower  surface 
of  head. 

b.  Head    small,    slender,    subconic,    its    greatest    width    about    iV    of    its    length; 

dorsal  fin  high  and  pointed,  the  longest  ray  about  %   of  head;   color  bluish 

olive  to  silvery,  always  more  or  less  spotted  with  darker punctatus. 

bb.  Head  large,  broad  and  heavy,  its  greatest  width  nearly  &  of  its  length; 
dorsal  fin  low  and  more  or  less  rounded,  its  longest  ray  little  more  than 
%  of  head;  color  slaty  olive  to  yellowish anguilla. 


*  This  statement  is  not  well  known  to  apply  to  I.  anyuilla. 


178  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

ICTALURUS  FURCATUS   (LE  SUEUR) 
BLUE  CAT;  CHUCKLE-HEADED  CAT;  FULTON  CAT 

Le  Sueur,  1840,  in  Cuv.  &  Val.,  XV,  136   (Pimelodus). 

G.,  V,  103   (Amiurus);   J.  &  G.,  109;    M.  V.,  39;    J.  &  E.,  I,  134;    N.,   50;    J.,  66    (Ich- 

thselurus  furcatus,  Amiurus  nigricans  [part];   F.,  82  and  83,  (furcatus,  pondero- 

sus,  nigricans  [part];    F.  F.,  II.  7,  456;    L/.,  9. 

Body  slender,  somewhat  compressed,  the  back  elevated,  depth  4  to  4.5 
in  length;  profile  long,  steeper  than  in  the  next  species,  the  elevation  18°  to 
23°  and  the  contour  broken  at  the  nape  (the  elevation  from  that  point  to 
dorsal  being  greater  than  from  snout  to  nape) .  Size  large,  reaching  a  weight 
of  over  40  pounds.  Color  bluish  or  slaty  gray  above,  shading  to  silvery 
below  and  almost  white  on  belly;  fins,  especially  the  anal,  frequently  edged 
with  dusky;  spots  very  few  or  entirely  absent.  Head  small,  wedge-shaped, 
more  angular  than  in  the  next  species,  its  length  4  to  4.4,  its  greatest  depth 
5.2  to  5.6  in  body;  top  of  head  and  nape  prominently  convex,  the  back 
subcarinate  in  front  of  dorsal,  the  skin  thin  and  fitted  closely  over  the  bones; 
mouth  small,  inferior,  the  lower  jaw  wholly  included;  lips  thin;  maxillary 
barbels  reaching  past  gill-opening;  eye  small,  oval,  lying  on  the  median  axis 
of  the  body  and  nearer  lower  than  upper  surface  of  head;  diameter  of  orbit 
7.2  to  7.8  in  head.  Dorsal  fin  high,  nearer  snout  than  adipose,  its  distance 
from  snout  3  to  3.5  in  length;  the  spine  rather  longer  and  more  slender  than 
in  I.  pundatus,  its  length  1.5  to  1.7  in  head;  the  posterior  edge  usually  fur- 
nished with  well-developed  retrorse  teeth.  Caudal  deeply  forked,  the  lobes 
about  equal.  Anal  fin  long,  of  30  to  35  rays,  including  rudiments,  its  base 
about  ^  length  of  body,  the  free  margin  straight  or  very  slightly  rounded. 
Pectoral  spine  a  little  shorter  than  that  of  dorsal;  humeral  process  1.3  to 
1.6  in  length  of  spine. 


FIG.  50 
Anal  and  caudal  fins  of  Ictalurus  furcatus. 


This  species  is  found  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley  and 
the  Gulf  states,  being  most  abundant  southward,  and  especially 
so  in  the  Atchafalaya  in  Louisiana,  where  one  to  two  million 
pounds  are  taken  annually.  It  forms  a  large  per  cent,  of  the 


1CTALURUS  —  CHANNEL-CATS  179 

catch  of  catfish.es  at  Alton,  where  the  smaller  channel-cat 
(/.  punctatus)  is  known  as  "  fiddler,  "  and  fished  for  with  special 
small  nets.  It  is  rare  in  the  Illinois  River  and  the  smaller 
tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  in  this  state.  It  grows  to  a  great 
size,  specimens  weighing  as  much  as  150  Ib*  being  occasionally 
caught,  although  the  average  size  of  the  larger  ones  taken  is 
only  15  to  20  R).  It  is  commonly  known  as  the  "  Fulton"  or 
"blue  cat"  by  Mississippi  River  fishermen.  It  is  called  "  white 
Fulton"  by  those  who  apply  to  the  smaller  species  (J.  punctatus} 
the  name  "blue  Fulton";  and  "Mississippi  cat"  is  the  name 
given  it  by  some  Illinois  River  fishermen. 

It  frequents  the  deeper  waters  of  the  river  channels,  coming 
out  into  the  shallower  sloughs  and  backwaters  in  spring.  A 
specimen  examined  by  Dr.  Kofoid  had  eaten  fragments  of  bark 
(twenty  per  cent.),  insect  fragments  and  larvae  (fifty  per  cent.), 
and  miscellaneous  organic  debris.  The  senior  author  found 
fishes  only  in  the  stomach  of  a  specimen  taken  in  1887.  The 
breeding  habits  of  the  species  are  not  known.  It  is  caught  on 
trot-lines  baited  with  hickory-shad,  mooneye,  or  crawfish 
(Louisiana),  and  in  fykes  and  bait  nets.  In  the  words  of  Dr. 
Jordan:  "The  flesh  is  of  excellent  quality,  firm  and  flaky,  of 
very  delicious  flavor,  nutritious  in  a  high  degree,  and  always 
commanding  a  high  price.  *  *  *  It  is  of  all  the  catfishesthe 
one  most  deserving  of  cultivation  and  popular  favor,  and  which 
could  with  profit  be  introduced  into  other  countries.  " 

ICTALURUS  ANGUILLA  EVERMANN  &  KENDALL 


Evermann  &  Kndall,  1897,  Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm., 
J.  &  E.,  Ill,'  2788. 

Body  robust,  head  broad,  the  back  little  elevated,  the  contour  from 
occiput  to  adipose  fin  being  almost  straight  and  parallel  with  median  axis; 
depth  4.7  in  length;  profile  steep  from  snout  to  postorbital  region,  from 
which  point  the  elevation  to  dorsal  is  slight  and  gradual.  Length  of  single 
specimen  obtained  24  inches;  others  of  somewhat  larger  size,  weighing  10 
to  12  pounds,  reported  by  fishermen  about  Henry,  Illinois.  Color  slaty 
olive,  darker  above,  yellowish  on  sides;  anal  and  caudal  dark-edged.  Head 
large,  broad,  and  heavy,  much  as  in  species  of  Ameiurus,  the  cheeks  and 
postocular  portion  unusually  prominent;  length  of  head  4.1;  width  4.7  in 
length  of  body;  interorbital  space  somewhat  concave,  a  deep  groove  extend- 
ing backward  to  front  of  dorsal;  bones  of  top  of  head  covered  heavily  with 
flesh  and  thick  skin;  mouth  broad,  upper  jaw  longer  than  lower;  maxillary 

*  These  large  specimens  were  formerly  thought  to  belong  to  another  species  (Ameiurus 
nigricans,  ponderosus,  etc.),  but  have  recently  been  shown  by  Dr.  Evermann  not  to  be  distinct. 


180  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

barbels  scarcely  reaching  gill-opening,  other  barbels  short;  eye  small,  8  in 
head,  situated  near  upper  surface  of  skull.  Dorsal  fin  low,  its  longest  ray 
little  more  than  ^  of  head;  the  spine  short  and  robust,  about  3  in  head; 
dorsal  distance  3  in  body.  Caudal  moderately  forked,  the  lobes  not  much 
pointed.  Anal  fin  with  25  rays,  its  free  margin  symmetrically  rounded. 
Pectoral  spine  short  and  robust,  with  strong  retrorse  teeth  on  its  posterior 
edge;  humeral  process  about  2J/2  in  pectoral  spine. 

This  species  is  here  described  from  a  single  specimen,  ob- 
tained in  Senachwine  Lake,  near  Henry,  in  August,  1903. 
Since  then,  several  specimens  have  been  seen  by  us  at  Alton 
and  Graf  ton,  where  it  is  not  rare  in  fyke-net  catches  made  in 
May  and  June.  H.  L.  Ashlock,  of  Alton,  says  that  fishes  of  this 
species  weighing  26  Ib  are  taken  at  Alton  and  Graf  ton,  where 
it  is  sometimes  called  "  nigger-lips  "  by  the  fishermen.  Its  flesh 
is  said  by  Dr.  Evermann  to  be  firm  and  of  excellent  flavor. 

ICTALURUS  PUNCTATUS   (EAFINESQUE) 

CHANNEL-CAT;  FIDDLER 

(MAP  Lil) 

Rafinesque,  1818,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  359,   (Silurus). 

G.,  V,  102  (Amiurus  caudafurcatus) ;   J.  &  G.,  108;   M.  V.,  39;   J.  &  E.,  I,  134;   N.,  50; 
J.,  66  (Ichthaelurus  punctatus  and  robustus) ;  F.,  82;  F.  F.,  II.  1,  456;   L.,  9. 

Body  slender,  scarcely  compressed,  and  the  back  very  little  elevated, 
depth  4.2  to  5  in  length,*  usually  nearer  5  than  4;  profile  long  and  almost 
straight,  very  slightly  convex,  the  elevation  16°  to  18°,  that  from  nape  to 
dorsal  somewhat  less  than  elevation  from  snout  to  nape.  One  of  the  larger 
catfishes,  reaching  a  weight  of  20  to  25  pounds.  Head  and  upper  parts  of 
body  dark  to  lighter  olive,  with  coppery  luster  on  cheeks  and  sides  above 
lateral  line;  sides  below  lateral  line  light  olive  with  much  silvery  luster  and 
with  small  spots  of  darker;  belly  pearl-gray  in  region  of  ventrals,  more 
yellowish  forward;  maxillary  barbels  black,  chin  barbels  whitish  or  ashen; 
fins,  except  ventrals  and  pectorals,  greenish,  the  anal  with  a  silvery  band  at 
base;  ventrals  and  pectorals  a  smoky  greenish  gray.  Head  small,  slender, 
subconic,  its  length  3.6  to  4  in  body,  its  greatest  depth  less  than  in  /.  anguilla, 
4.9  to  5.2  in  body;  interorbital  space  flat  or  slightly  convex;  occipital  region 
and  shoulders  gently  rounded  and  covered  with  thin,  close-fitting  skin; 
mouth  more  nearly  terminal  than  in  anguilla,  the  upper  jaw  only  slightly 
longer  than  the  lower;  lips  somewhat  thicker  than  in  preceding  species; 
maxillary  barbels  long  and  slender,  reaching  past  gill-opening;  eye  oval, 
lying  above  median  axis  of  body  and  nearer  upper  than  lower  surface  of  head; 
diameter  of  orbit  4  to  8  in  head.  Dorsal  fin  high,  placed  a  little  nearer  snout 
than  adipose,  distance  from  snout  to  dorsal  2.5  to  2.7  in  length;  dorsal  spine 
usually  rather  more  robust  and  shorter  than  in  I.  furcatus,  1.4  to  2.2  in  head, 
its  posterior  edge  usually  almost  smooth.  Caudal  fin  deeply  forked,  the  upper 
lobe  longer  and  more  slender  than  the  lower.  Anal  fin  short,  composed  of  24 
to  29  rays,  including  rudiments,  its  base  from  3.4  to  3.7  in  length  of  body, 


ICTALURUS — CHANNEL-CATS  181 

the  free  margin  rounded.     Pectoral  spine  about  equal  in  length  to  dorsal; 
humeral  process  one  half  length  of  pectoral  spine. 


FIG.  51 
Anal  and  caudal  fins  of  Ictalurus  punctatus. 

This  is  the  most  abundant  of  our  true  catfishes.  It  is  com- 
monly distributed  throughout  the  state,  occurring  in  171  of  our 
collections,  in  all  our  river  basins,  and  in  all  our  principal  classes 
of  situation  except  the  glacial  lakes  of  northeastern  Illinois. 
The  young  of  this  species  have,  however,  a  much  wider  range 
than  the  adults,  and  are  frequently  abundant  in  headwater 
streams  and  creeks  in  which  full-grown  individuals  are  never 
taken. 

The  channel-cat  is  about  equally  common  in  the  three  sec- 
tions of  the  state,  and  approximately  so  in  the  three  classes  of  our 
streams.  The  frequency  coefficients  for  rivers  of  the  first  and 
second  classes  and  for  creeks  are  1.02>  1.6,  and  1.37  respectively. 
In  lakes  and  sloughs  it  is  much  less  abundant,  its  frequency 
ratio  in  549  collections  from  such  situations  being  but  .39.  It 
has  a  decided  preference  for  clear  swift  waters,  but  not  so  general 
or  so  strong  as  to  exclude  it  to  any  appreciable  degree  from  the 
lower  Illinoisan  glaciation. 

It  is  found  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley,  the  Gulf  and 
Great  Lake  regions,  and  northward  to  Ontario  and  Winnipeg, 
being  especially  abundant  in  the  Red  River  at  the  latter  place. 
Southward  it  extends  to  the  Alabama  River  and  the  Florida 
peninsula,  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  the  rivers  of  northern  Mexico. 

This  fish  is  often  known  by  fishermen  as  the  " fiddler"  or 
"blue  Fulton,"  but  anglers  on  the  upper  Illinois  and  the  Fox 
usually  refer  to  it  as  the  "  channel-cat. "  It  is  seldom  taken  of 
more  than  five  pounds  weight,  although  specimens  are  occasion- 
ally seen  weighing  from  fifteen  to  twenty  pounds.  It  is  "a 
trimmer,  more  active  fish  than  any  of  the  related  species, 
*  *  *  living  in  clearer,  more  swiftly  flowing  water, "  for  these 


182  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

reasons  being  well  esteemed  by  anglers  in  many  localities. 
Its  flesh  is  likewise  firmer,  and  perhaps  more  flaky  and  better 
flavored  than  that  of  any  of  the  other  catfishes. 

Our  knowledge  of  its  food  is  based  upon  an  examination  of 
43  specimens  taken  from  the  Illinois  and  the  Mississippi  rivers 
during  the  spring,  summer,  and  autumn  months  of  1878,  1880, 
and  1887.  About  a  fourth  of  the  food  consisted  of  vegetable 
matter,  much  of  it  miscellaneous  and  accidental.  Three  speci- 
mens, however,  had  eaten  nothing  but  algae,  and  fragments  of 
pondweed  (Potamogeton)  made  20  per  cent,  of  the  food  of  another 
three.  A  single  fish  had  fed  on  still-house  slops;  and  a  dead 
rat,  pieces  of  ham,  and  other  animal  debris  attested  the  easy- 
going appetite  of  this  thrifty  species.  Pieces  of  fish  were  found 
in  all  of  this  group,  commonly,  however,  of  so  large  a  size  as  to 
make  it  certain  that  they  were  the  debris  of  the  fishing  boats. 
Occasionally  fishes  evidently  taken  alive  composed  the  whole 
food.  Mollusks,  about  equally  large  water-snails  and  large 
thin  clams  (probably  in  most  cases  Anodonta),  were  a  decidedly 
important  element,  being  found  in  15  of  the  43  fishes.  They 
amounted  to  15  per  cent,  of  the  food  of  the  group,  and  several 
specimens  had  taken  little  or  nothing  else.  Notwithstanding 
the  number  of  bivalves  eaten  by  this  fish,  no  fragment  of  a  shell 
was  ever  found  in  their  stomachs,  but  the  bodies  of  the  mollusks 
seem  to  have  been  separated,  while  yet  living,  from  the  shells, 
as  indicated  by  their  fresh  condition  and  by  the  fact  that  the 
shell  muscles  were  scarcely  ever  present.  Fishermen  say  that 
they  are  often  first  notified  of  the  presence  of  catfishes  in  their 
seines  by  seeing  the  fragments  of  clams  floating  on  the  surface, 
disgorged  by  the  struggling  captives.  Still  more  interesting 
and  curious  is  the 'fact  that  the  spiral-shelled  mollusks  found 
in  the  stomachs  of  these  fishes  were  almost  invariably  naked, 
the  more  or  less  mutilated  bodies  having  only  the  opercles 
attached.  The  shells  are  evidently  cracked  in  the  jaws  of  the 
fish  and  rejected  before  the  food  is  swallowed.  As  many  as 
120  bodies  and  opercles  of  water-snails  (Melantho  and  Vivipara) 
were  by  us  taken  from  the  stomach  of  a  single  Illinois  River  cat- 
fish. Insects  were,  however,  a  principal  food  of  the  specimens 
studied,  making  44  per  cent,  of  all,  and  eaten  by  28  of  the  fishes. 
Five,  in  fact,  had  eaten  nothing  else,  and  others  had  taken  90  per 
cent.,  or  more,  of  insects,  mostly  aquatic,  although  now  and  then 
a  fish  had  filled  itself  with  terrestrial  specimens.  Most  of  the 
aquatic  insects  were  larvse  of  day-flies,  dragon-flies,  and  gnats, 


AMEIURUS — BULLHEADS  :   HORNED  POUT  183 

to  be  found  only  on  the  bottom.  Our  records  indicate  that 
this  fish  spawned  in  May  in  1898  (Craig).  The  spawning 
season  in  the  Wabash  is  said  by  Dr.  Jordan  to  begin  in  June. 
The  channel-cat  is  taken  very  frequently  in  bait  nets  and 
baskets ,  the  former  being  called  by  the  fishermen  "  fiddler-nets. " 
These  are  baited  usually  with  "  dough-balls, "  made  by  mixing 
flour  and  water,  allowing  the  paste  to  sour,  and  then  baking  it; 
or,  in  summer,  with  " roasting  ears"  of  corn  which  become  sour 
after  soaking  in  water  for  a  day  or  so.  The  sour  smell  of  either 
the  dough  or  the  corn  is  said  to  be  especially  attractive  to  this 
fish.  Separate  statistics  of  the  fisheries  of  this  species  are  not 
available,  although  it  may  be  said  to  constitute  the  bulk  of  the 
catfishes  (not  including  bullheads)  of  the  annual  Illinois  River 
catch,  which  was  241,000  Ib  in  1899.* 

GENUS  AMEIURUS  EAFINESQUE 

BULLHEADS;  HORNED  POUT 

Body  moderately  elongate,  robust  anteriorly,  the  caudal  peduncle  much 
compressed.  Head  large,  wide.  Supraoccipital  bone  extended  backward, 
terminating  in  a  more  or  less  acute  point,  which  is  entirely  separate  from  the 
second  interspinal  buckler,  leaving  a  gap  in  the  bony  bridge  from  occiput  to 
dorsal  fin.  Mouth  large,  the  upper  jaw  in  most  species  the  longer.  Teeth  on 
premaxillaries  and  dentaries  in  broad  bands,  of  equal  breadth  and  without 
backward  prolongations  at  the  angles.  Anal  fin  of  varying  length,  its  rays 
17  to  35.  Caudal  fin  short,  truncate,  or  only  slightly  emargmate  in  typical 
species,  more  or  less  deeply  forked  in  those  species  (as  A.  lacustris)  which 
approach  the  genus  Ictalurus.  Color  various,  usually  darker  than  in  Ictalurus, 
species  found  in  Illinois  being  yellow,  brown,  black,  or  mottled. 

Species  numerous,  swarming  in  every  pond  and  sluggish 
stream  in  the  central  and  eastern  United  States;  one  species 
found  in  China.  All  of  the  local  species  except  the  one  first 
described  (A.  lacustris}  are  smaller  than  the  channel-cats,  not 
often  exceeding  12  inches  in  length.  All  are  of  value  as  food 
fishes. 


KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  AMEIURUS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Caudal  fin   deeply   forked lacustris. 

ia.     Caudal  fin  rounded,  truncate  or  slightly  emarginate. 

b.  Anal  rays  24  to  27,  including  rudiments,  usually  25  or  26;   caudal  fin  rounded 

posteriorly;   color  waxy  yellow  to  greenish,  sometimes  blackish  above 

natalis. 


Statistics  of  the  Illinois  Fishermen's  Association. 


184  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

bb.    Anal  rays  17  to  24,  including  rudiments,   seldom  more   than   23;    caudal   fin 

always  evidently  emarginate. 

c.  Anal  rays  21  to  24,  usually  22  or  23,  including  rudiments;  pectoral  spine  in 
young  with  5  to  10  well-developed  strong  and  sharp  teeth  on  its  posterior 
edge,  their  length  more  than  half  the  diameter  of  the  spine,  becoming 
more  numerous  and  relatively  much  reduced  in  size  in  adults,  in  which 
they  range  from  10  to  25;  black  pigment  on  anal  fin  typically  densest  on 
membranes  near  their  free  margin,  in  spots  forming  an  obscure  longitudi- 
nal bar  near  base  of  fin,  or  in  faint  mottlings  irregularly  distributed  on 
both  membranes  and  rays;  in  pale  unmottled  specimens  both  the  mem- 
branes and  the  rays  about  equally  pigmented nebulosus. 

cc.  Anal  rays  17  to  20,  usually  18  or  19,  including  rudiments;  pectoral  spine 
at  all  ages  entire  or  only  slightly  roughened  behind,  or  (rarely)  in  adults 
with  5  to  10  obscure  weak  and  blunt  teeth  on  its  posterior  edge;  outer 
%  of  anal  membranes  uniformly  pigmented,  always  darker  than  the  rays, 
the  fin  never  mottled  or  barred  or  uniformly  pigmented  on  both  mem- 
branes and  rays  as  in  c ,  ...  melas. 


AMEIURUS  LACUSTRIS    (WALBAUM) 

CATFISH    OF   THE   LAKES* 

Walbaum,  1792,  Artedi  Pise.,  144  (Gadus). 

G.,  V,  100  (borealis);   J.  &  G.,  108  and  882  (Ictalurus  lacustris,  I.  nigricans,  [part]); 

M.   V.,    39    (nigricans,   part);    J.    &    E.,    I,    137;    J.,    66    (nigricans,   part);    P.,    83 

(Ictalurus  nigricans,  part);   L.,  9. 

Large  fishes  with  the  tail  forked  as  in  Ictalurus  and  with  the  occipito- 
dorsal  bridge  nearly  complete,  but  with  the  dark  coloration  and  broad,  de- 
pressed head  of  Ameiurus',  weight  ordinarily  5  to  15  pounds,  sometimes  40 
pounds.f  Depth  4.5  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  stout,  its  depth  1.6  in  its 
length.  Color  dark  slaty  to  bluish  black  above,  paler  below;  without  dusky 
spots;  anal  dusky-edged.  Head  broad  and  depressed,  3.8  in  length;  width  of, 
head  1.2  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  flat,  1.8  in  head;  eye  8.3  in  head,  4.6 
in  interorbital  distance;  nose  2.5;  upper  jaw  longer  than  lower;  maxillary 
barbels  to  gill-opening.  Dorsal  fin  1-6,  inserted  nearer  snout  than  adipose; 
dorsal  distance  2.7  in  length;  spine  short  and  bluntly  pointed,  about  as  long 
as  nose,  its  posterior  edge  not  serrate;  caudal  deeply  forked;  anal  rays  24; 
pectoral  spine  about  same  length  as  dorsal,  weakly  serrate  behind;  humeral 
process  about  ^  pectoral  spine. 

Described  from  a  single  specimen  taken  at  Green  Bay,  Wis., 
in  1904. 

This  species  is  peculiar  to  the  Great  Lake  basin,  being  com- 
mon in  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  It  was 
long  confused  by  American  ichthyologists  with  the  great  blue 
cat  (Ictalurus  furcatus)  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Little  is 

*  Recent  studies  by  Dr.  Evermann  (Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  No.  47,  III,  2788)  have  shown 
that  this  species  is  probably  confined  to  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  St.  Lawrence  basin,  the  speci- 
mens of  "Great  Mississippi  Catfish"  hitherto  described  from  the  Mississippi  under  the  names 
nigricans,  ponderosus,  and  lacustris  belonging  to  Ictalurus  furcatus. 

f  The  large  size,  150  Ib,  assigned  to  the  species  by  Jordan  &  Evermann  (Bull.  47)  and  by 
Bean,  1.  c.,  is  due  to  inclusion  with  it  of  Bean's  A.  ponderosus.  Jordan  and  Evermann  in  the 
appendix  to  Pt.  III.  of  Bulletin  47  state  that  the  skeleton  of  A.  ponderosus  is  that  of  an  Ictalurus. 


AMEIURUS — BULLHEADS;  HORNED  POUT  185 

known  distinctively  of  its  habits,  commercial  value,  or  edible 
qualities.  M.  Montpetit,  writing  of  the  fishes  of  Canada, 
speaks  enthusiastically  of  it  as  a  food  species,  and  describes 
the  methods  of  catching  it  in  the  St.  Lawrence. 

AMEIURUS  NATALIS   (LB  SUEUR) 

YELLOW   BULLHEAD 
(PL.,  P.  187;  MAP  LIU) 

Le  Sueur,  1819,  M6m.  Mus.,  V,  154  (Pimelodus). 

G.,  V,  101  (Amiurus);  J.  &  G.(  105  and  881  (bolli);  M.  V.,  40;  J.  &  E.,  I,  139;   N.,  50 

(cupreus);    J.,   66    (Amiurus);   F.,  83    (Ictalurus);    F,  F..  II.   7,  459    (lotalurus); 

L.,  9. 

Body  stout,  sometimes  obese,  rather  short  and  thick  and  tapering*  but 
little  from  dorsal  to  adipose  fin,  depth  3.5  to  3.9  in  length;  profile  low,  the 
elevation  from  snout  to  dorsal  fin  10°  to  14°;  caudal  peduncle  deep,  1.7  to  2.2 
in  head;  skin  thick,  the  epidermis  of  belly  very  coarse;  fleshy  prominences 
covered  with  thick  and  loose  skin  on  either  side  of  a  median  groove  through 
occipital  region  to  base  of  dorsal.  Length  12  to  18  inches,  not  often  found 
over  12  inches.  Color  of  upper  parts  yellowish  green  to  blackish,  the  sides 
lighter,  yellowish  brown  or  waxy  yellow;  belly  yellow;  nasal  and  maxillary 
barbels  light  brownish,  lower  barbels  pinkish  buff;  fin  membranes  very 
weakly  pigmented,  the  rays  lighter.  Head  large,  broad,  and  somewhat  de- 
pressed, its  length  3.1  to  3.5  in  body,  its  greatest  width  through  the  cheeks, 
the  breadth  here  about  same  as  depth  of  body  at  front  of  dorsal;  nose  short  and 
broadly  rounded;  mouth  wide,  horizontal,  upper  jaw  usually  slightly  longer 
than  lower,  maxillary  barbels  reaching  about  to  posterior  edge  of  opercles; 
eye  small,  7.2  to  8.5  in  head.  Dorsal  fin  small  and  low;  the  spine  rather  short, 
2.2  to  2.6  in  body.  Caudal  rather  short,  rounded  posteriorly.  Anal  fin  of  24 
to  27  rays,  including  rudiments,  usually  25  or  26,  the  longest  rays  somewhat 
less  than  depth  of  caudal  peduncle;  base  of  fin  3.5  to  4  in  length  of  body, 
the  free  margin  but  slightly  rounded,  almost  straight  from  the  fifth  to  the 
twentieth  ray.  Pectoral  spine  strong,  its  length  about  same  as  dorsal  spine, 
usually  smooth,  but  sometimes  weakly  serrate  near  tip;  humeral  process  1.8 
to  2.2  in  pectoral  spine. 

An  abundant  species  throughout  the  state,  but  much  less 
so  than  the  black  bullhead  (Ameiurus  melas).  Taken  in  122  of 
our  collections.  It  is  commonest  in  creeks,  and  next  in  lowland 
lakes,  the  coefficients  for  these  two  situations  being  2.22  and  1.18 
respectively.  In  local  distribution  it  contrasts  in  an  interesting 
way  with  the  brown  bullhead,  which  is  much  the  commonest 
in  lakes  and  ponds,  and  comparatively  scarce  in  creeks,  where 
its  frequency  coefficient  is  only  .28.  These  species  resemble 
each  other  so  closely  that  they  are  not  often  distinguished  by 
fishermen,  and  their  food  and  habits  are  virtually  identical. 

—21  F 


186  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

Their  mutual  rivalries  might  hence  result  to  their  common 
disadvantage  except  for  a  partial  avoidance  of  competition  by  a 
difference  of  local  and  ecological  preference.  Our  collection 
data  indicate  for  this  species  a  strong  preference  for  muddy 
water,  its  frequency  coefficient  for  streams  with  a  mud  bottom 
being  1.72.  Consistent  with  this  fact  is  its  distribution  in  the 
lower  Illinoisan  glaciation.  We  have  found  it  in  all  our  river 
basins,,  including  the  Michigan  drainage  area  and  the  north- 
eastern glacial  lakes,  but  have  not  taken  it  in  the  extreme  north- 
western part  of  the  state.  It  has  also  been  absent  in  our  collec- 
tions from  the  main  streams  of  the  Wabash,  the  Ohio,  and  the 
Mississippi,  and  from  the  short  creeks  of  the  Mississippi  bluffs. 
It  seems  with  us  to  be  more  abundant  southward,  and  has 
occurred  with  the  greatest  frequency  in  the  streams  of  the 
Wabash  Valley. 

It  is  generally  distributed  from  Lakes  Erie  and  Huron  and 
the  smaller  lakes  of  Ontario  to  North  Carolina  and  the  Florida 
peninsula,  the  Alabama  River,  and  Texas.  It  occurs  also  in 
the  Arkansas  River  and  up  the  Missouri  to  South  Dakota.  It 
is  one  of  the  commonest  and  best  known  bullheads  through- 
out its  range. 

As  illustrated  by  the  food  of  a  dozen  specimens,  this  species 
has  the  habits  of  a  scavenger.  One  of  these  fishes  had  gorged 
itself  with  the  waste  of  a  fish  boat,  and  one  had  made  the 
greater  part  of  its  last  meal  from  the  remnants  of  a  dead  cat. 
Three  of  these  specimens  had  eaten  fishes  taken  alive,  and  four 
others  had  eaten  crawfishes.  May-fly  larvae  and  a  few  water- 
snails  were  the  only  other  objects  worth  mentioning.  Seven 
young  specimens,  from  two  to  three  and  a  half  inches  long,  had 
fed  principally  on  Entomostraca,  the  remainder  of  their  food 
being  chiefly  small  mollusks  and  insect  larvae. 

This  fish  is  distinguished  from  the  brown  bullhead  (A. 
nebulosus)  only  by  the  more  observant  of  our  fishermen,  some  of 
whom  call  it  " greaser"  or  " slick  bullhead,"  its  skin  being  very 
thin,  and  the  fish,  in  consequence,  particularly  hard  to  dress. 
Its  maximum  weight  is  !J/£  to  2  Ib. 

The  yellow  bullhead  spawned  at  Havana  in  May  in  1898 
(Craig).  Females  with  ripe  spawn  were  seen  in  market  at 
Meredosia  on  May  24,  1900  (Large).  In  the  words  of  Dr. 
Jordan  these  fishes  are  "small,  but  good  eating,"  as  we  have 
ourselves  proven. 


\ 


AMEIURUS — BULLHEADS;  HORNED  POUT    .— 

^^VVVVtrt^JiA/' 

AMEIURUS  NEBULOSUS   (LE  SUEUR) 


187 


SPECKLED  BULLHEAD;  COMMON  BULLHEAD;  BROWN  BULLHEAD 
(MAP  LIV) 

Le  Sueur,  1819,  M6m.  Mus.,  V,  149   (Pimelodus). 

J.  &  G.,  104  (catus);  M.  V.,  40;  J.  &  E.,  I,  140;  N.,  50  (albidus,  atrarius,  vulgaris); 
J.,  66  and  67  (catus,  xanthocephalus  (?),  marmoratus,  vulgaris);  P.,  83  (Icta- 
lurus  nebulosus,  part);  F,  P.,  II.  7,  460  (Ictalurus);  L,.,  10. 

Body  typically  elongate,  never  more  than  moderately  robust,  rather 
more  compressed  than  in  A.  melas;  depth  from  3.5  to  4.3  in  length,  usually 
nearty  or  a  little  more  than  4;  profile 
long  and  almost  straight,  the  shoulders 
never  prominent  and  no  groove  before 
dorsal;  skin  thin,  fitting  closely  over 
top  of  head  and  nape,  that  of  belly 
consisting  of  a  very  thin  and  delicate 
epidermal  layer  over  a  thick  layer  of 
unpigmented  connective  tissue.  Size 
ranging  larger  than  in  the  next  species, 
reaching  18  inches.  Color  variable, 
usually  a  rather  dark  yellowish  brown 
faintly  clouded,  more  strongly  mottled 
with  darker  in  the  nominal  variety 
marmoratus,  sometimes  nearly  black; 
under  parts,  including  chin,  breast, 
and  belly,  pale  gray,  pinkish,  or  satiny 
whitish;  nasal  and  maxillary  barbels 
of  same  shade  as  top  of  head;  lower 

barbels  slaty  to  pinkish  white,  sometimes  faintly  marbled  with  darker;  fin 
membranes  less  strongly  pigmented  than  in  A.  melas,  the  black  on  anal 
typically  densest  in  the  membranes  near  'their  free  margin,  in  spots  which 
form  a  more  or  less  faint  longitudinal  bar  near  base  of  fin,  or  in  faint  mottlings 
irregularly  distributed  on  both  membranes  and  rays;  in  pale  unmottled 
specimens  both  the  rays  and  membranes  weakly,  but  about  equally  pig- 
mented. Head  3.2  to  3.6  in  body,  subconic,  rather  narrower  and  more  slender 
than  in  the  next  species  and  somewhat  more  depressed,  its  length  always 
considerably  greater  than  its  width,  which  is  contained  1.2  to  1.3  in  length 
of  head  in  adults,  in  length  of  body  from  3.9  to  4.7;  nose  longer  and  the  snout 
more  sharply  rounded  than  in  A.  melas;  upper  jaw  usually  distinctly  longer 
than  lower;  maxillary  barbel  usually  reaching  considerably  beyond  gill- 
opening,  often  beyond  humeral  process.  Dorsal  spine  variable,  1.8  to  2.5  in 
head,  as  a  rule  rather  long.  Caudal  typically  somewhat  more  deeply  emar- 
ginate  than  in  the  next  species.  Anal  fin  of  21  to  24  rays,  including  rudiments, 
usually  22  or  23,  its  base  from  3.2  to  4.1  in  length  of  body;  free  margin  of  fin 
from  about  the  eighth  to  the  fifteenth  ray  but  little  rounded,  sometimes 
almost  straight,  the  rays  rather  slender  and  split  usually  less  than  a  third  of 
the  way  to  base.  Pectoral  spine  as  a  rule  rather  long,  curved,  and  sharply 
pointed,  its  length  1.8  to  2.4  in  head,  usually  less  than  2;  the  posterior  edge  in 
the  young  furnished  with  6  to  10  well-developed  retrorse  teeth,  whose  length 


FIG.  52 

Caudal,  anal,  and  pectoral  fins  of  Ameiu- 
rus  nebulosus. 


188  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

is  half,  or  almost  equal  to,  diameter  of  spine,  the  teeth  relatively  much 
smaller  and  more  numerous  in  adults,  in  which  their  number  ranges  from  10 
to  25;  humeral  process  longer  and  sharper  than  in  A.  melas. 

The  brown  bullhead,  distributed  throughout  the  length  of 
the  state,  is  nevertheless  the  least  abundant  of  our  common 
horned  pouts.  As  remarked  under  the  preceding  species,  it  is 
peculiar  in  its  preference  for  stagnant  waters,  of  both  lowland 
and  upland  lakes  and  ponds,  and  it  is  next  commonest  in  the 
larger  streams.  Our  frequency  coefficients  are  1.46  for  glacial 
lakes,  1.25  for  lowland  lakes,  and  .94  for  the  larger  rivers.  We 
have  found  it  most  frequently  in  the  immediate  course  of  the  Illi- 
nois River,  and  have  not  taken  it  at  all  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  the  state,  nor  at  any  point  within  the  lower  Illinoisan  glacia- 
tion. 

Outside  our  area  it  is  reported  from  lakes  of  New  Bruns- 
wick to  those  of  the  Saskatchewan  system,  including  the  Great 
Lakes  in  general,  and  from  thence  southward  to  the  Florida 
peninsula  and  to  Texas.  It  has  been  introduced  also  into  many 
rivers  of  the  Pacific  states,  and  into  the  small  lakes  of  southern 
Oregon,  in  all  of  which  it  has  become  excessively  abundant.  It 
is  said  by  Bean  to  be  the  commonest  catfish  in  Lake  Erie  and 
its  tributaries.  It  is  the  jcommon  bullhead  or  horned  pout  of 
New  England  and  New  York,  but  in  this  state  these  names  are 
much  more  likely  to  be  applied  to  the  more  abundant  black 
bullhead  (A.  melas},  the  commonest  of  its  kind  in  the  smaller 
creeks.  The  present  species  is  the  principal  bullhead  of  the 
market  catches  from  the  larger  rivers. 

The  food  of  13  specimens  examined  by  us  was  unusually 
simple  for  that  of  a  catfish,  consisting  chiefly  of  small  bivalve 
mollusks,  larvae  of  insects  taken  upon  the  bottom,  distillery 
slops,  and  accidental  rubbish.  One  of  the  specimens  had  eaten 
eighteen  leeches,  leeches  appearing  in  the  food  of  four  others, 
and  a  few  had  taken  terrestrial  insects  and  univalve  mollusks. 

The  adults  are  almost  always  more  or  less  blotched  or  mot- 
tled, all  gradations  between  the  well-mottled  form  (marmoratus) 
and  the  typical  brown  nebulosus  being  found  regularly  in  the 
same  market  catches.  These  fishes  have  thick  skin,  and  are 
easier  to  dress  than  the  yellow  bullheads  (A.  natalis).  We  have 
found  both  the  mottled  and  the  brown  forms,  with  occasional 
specimens  of  the  black  bullhead  (A.  melas),  indiscriminately 
referred  to  as  " bullpouts "  or  " speckled  bullheads"  by  the 
fishermen  who  were  dressing  them. 


AMEIURUS — BULLHEADS;  HOKNED  POUT  189 

The  horned  pout  are  "dull  and  blundering  fellows/'  fond 
of  the  mud,  and  growing  best  in  weedy  ponds  and  rivers  without 
current.  They  stay  near  the  bottom,  moving  slowly  about  with 
their  barbels  widely  spread,  watching  for  anything  eatable. 
They  will  take  any  kind  of  bait  from  an  angleworm  to  a  piece 
of  tomato  can,  without  hesitation  or  coquetry,  and  they  seldom 
fail  to  swallow  the  hook.  They  are  very  tenacious  of  life, 
opening  and  shutting  their  mouths  for  half  an  hour  after  their 
heads  have  been  taken  off.  They  spawn  in  spring,  and  the  old 
fishes  lead  the  young  in  great  schools  near  the  shore,  caring  for 
them  as  a  hen  cares  for  her  chickens.  "A  bloodthirsty  and 
bullying  set  of  rangers,  with  ever  a  lance  at  rest  and  ready  to 
do  battle  with  their  nearest  neighbor." — -THOREAU. 

It  is  known  that  many  pond-stocking  experiments  with 
this  species  in  France  failed  at  first  owing  to  the  failure  to  select 
the  proper  kind  of  situations. 

These  fishes  will  live  where  no  others  can  survive,  and  when 
the  air  supply  is  bad  far  past  the  point  of  supporting  life  in 
ordinary  fishes,  they  have  merely  to  come  leisurely  to  the  surface 
and  renew  the  supply  in  their  swim-bladders.  In  the  late  fall 
they  become  sluggish  and  cease  feeding,  often  "mudding  up," 
or  burying  themselves  more  or  less  in  soft  leafy  ooze  along 
shore.*  They  will  lie  dormant  in  the  mud  at  the  bottom  of 
dried-out  shallows  for  weeks  at  a  time  without  harm,  and  have 
even  been  found,  according  to  some  (Dean),  in  cocoon-like 
clods  of  nearly  dried  mud,  still  alive.  In  pond  culture  experi- 
ments in  Georgia  (Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1884,  p.  32)  they 
were  found  to  relish  apples,  persimmons,  watermelons,  and  even 
corn,  wheat,  and  sorghum  seed.  They  will  take  almost  any 
kind  of  bait.  The  charge  of  spawn-eating  has  frequently  been 
preferred  against  this  fish,  as  well  as  its  near  relatives,  especially 
by  the  whitefish  and  shad  culturists.  The  evidence  for  such  a 
view  is,  however,  scanty.f 

The  brown  bullhead  spawns  in  spring,  the  time  having  been 
May  in  1898  at  Havana  (Craig).  Their  nests  were  found  by 
Professor  Birge  in  shallow  bays  with  sandy  bottom,  six  inches 
to  two  feet  deep.  The  eggs  are  laid  in  masses  similar  to  those 
of  the  frog,  and  are  of  a  beautiful  cream-color.  In  aquarium 

*  Shallow  lakes  in  Vermont  are  mowed  in  the  spring  by  the  farmers  to  allow  seining  for 
them.— Evermann  and  Kendall,  Rep.  IT.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1894. 

f  It  is  interesting  in  this  connection  to  note  that  Herr  Fuhrmann,  writing  of  recent  ex- 
periments carried  out  in  France  (Bull.  Soc.  Acclim.,  Vol.  51,  p.  351,  Nov.,  1904),  states  that 
this  species  does  not  eat  the  eggs  of  Coregonus  except  when  they  are  very  fresh,  that  is  before 
they  are  hardened  by  the  water,  which  occurs  very  quickly  after  they  are  deposited. 


190 


FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 


experiments  by  Smith  and  Harron  (Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1902, 
p.  150)  the  eggs  hatched  in  5  days,  during  which  time  both  parents 
constantly  watched  them,  fanning  them  with  their  fins.  At  times 
the  male  will  take  masses  of  eggs  into  his  mouth,  possibly  to  clean 
them,  as  they  are  ordinarily  soon  ejected.  The  young  are  watched 
by  the  male  and  are  sometimes  mouthed  as  are  the  eggs. 

This  species  is  of  fair  food  quality,  being  perhaps  somewhat 
inferior  to  the  yellow  bullhead.  It  was  successfully  introduced 
about  twenty  years  ago  into  Germany,  France,  the  Netherlands, 
and  England,  and,  in  the  continental  countries  especially,  its 
flesh  is  much  esteemed.  It  has  multiplied  very  rapidly  since 
its  introduction  into  California,  being  in  fact  one  of  the  readiest 
of  fresh-water  species  to  undergo  acclimatization.  Separate 
statistics  of  the  Illinois  product  of  this  catfish  are  not  available, 
though  it  may  probably  safely  be  said  that  it  forms  by  far  the 
major  part  of  the  total  bullhead  catch,  which  was  499,100  Ib 
for  the  Illinois  River  in  1899. 


AMEIURUS  MELAS   (EAFINESQUE) 

BLACK      BULLHEAD 
(MAP  LV) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Q.  J.  Sci.  Lit.  Arts,  Lond.,  51  (Silurus). 

J.  &  G.,  104  and  881  (Silurus  xanthocephalus  and  A.  brachyacanthus) ;   M.  V.,  41;  J. 

&  E.,  I,  141;  N.,  50   (confinis,  pullus);   J.,  67;   F.(  83   (Ictalurus  nebulosus,  part); 

L.,  10. 

Body  typically  robust,  shorter  and  deeper  than  in  the  preceding  species, 
but  sometimes  quite  elongate,  the  depth  3.1  to  3.5  in  length  of  body  in  adults; 
^^^^^  profile  slightly  convex  and  hardly  so 
long  as  in  nebulosus;  top  of  head  and 
occipital  region  covered  with  thick  and 
rather  loose  skin;  shoulders  rather 
prominent  on  each  side  of  a  median 
groove  in  well  nourished  adults;  skin 
noticeably  thicker  and  tougher  than 
in  the  last  species,  that  of  belly  con- 
sisting of  a  thick  and  coarsely  cellular 
epidermal  layer  over  a  thin  layer  of 
pigmentless  connective  tissue.  Size 
rather  small,  not  often  over  12  inches 
in  length.  Color  as  a  rule  very  dark 
brown  or  green  to  black  above,  the 
sides  with  more  or  less  luster  of  green 
or  gold;  under  parts  of  head  and  body 
greenish,  plumbeous,  or  yellowish  as 
far  back  as  anal  fin,  never  satiny  white;  fin  membranes  dusky  to  black,  the 
rays  usually  much  lighter,  the  contrast  in  color  quite  evident  in  the  anal  fin, 


FIG.  53 

Caudal,  anal,  and  pectoral  fins  of  Ameiurus 
melas. 


AMEIURUS — BULLHEADS;  HORNED  POUT  191 

which  is  never  marbled  or  equally  pigmented  on  both  membranes  and  rays 
as  in  A.  nebulosus.  Head  heavy,  3.1  to  3.5  in  length,  rather  short  and  much 
broadened  behind,  its  greatest  breadth  3.5  to  4  in  length  of  body,  usually 
about  3.7  and  sometimes  almost  equaling  its  length,  in  which  the  width  is 
contained  1.1  to  1.2,  usually  less  than  1.2;  mouth  wide,  the  snout  short  and 
broadly  rounded;  jaws  about  equal;  maxillary  barbels  reaching  to  or  only 
slightly  beyond  opercular  opening,  seldom  to  tip  of  humeral  process.  Dorsal 
spine  variable,  in  typical  specimens  rather  short  and  robust  and  quite  or 
nearly  straight,  but  sometimes  long  and  slender  and  considerably  curved. 
Caudal  slightly  emarginate.  Anal  fin  short,  of  17  to  20  rays,  including  rudi- 
ments, usually  18  or  19,  its  base  from  3.9  to  4.4  in  length  of  body,  the  free 
margin  distinctly  rounded;  anal  rays  rather  stout,  those  about  middle  of  fin 
split  almost  half  way  to  base.  Pectoral  spine  rather  shorter  and  blunter  than 
in  A.  nebulosus,  usually  not  much  curved,  its  length  2.4  to  3.6  in  head,  usually 
a  little  less  than  3;  the  posterior  edge  usually  entire  or  only  slightly  roughened, 
or,  more  rarely  (in  adults)  with  5  to  10  indistinct  weak  and  short  teeth; 
humeral  process  rather  short,  rugose,  and  bluntly  pointed.  This  species 
much  resembles  A.  nebulosus,  and  is  quite  variable,  but  may  usually  be 
distinguished  by  its  smaller  size,  shorter  and  deeper  anal  fin,  and  shorter 
pectoral  spines. 

This,  the  common  bullhead  of  the  Illinois  boy,  abundant 
everywhere  in  our  smaller  streams,  is  distributed  throughout 
the  entire  length  and  breadth  of  the  state.  In  the  main  features 
of  its  distribution  it  agrees  with  the  yellow  bullhead,  being,  like 
that  species,  decidedly  the  most  abundant  in  creeks,  and  least 
so  in  the  larger  rivers.  Its  frequency  coefficients  for  our  247 
collections  containing  it  are  as  follows,  in  the  order  of  their 
size:  creeks,  2.25;  the  smaller  rivers,  1.26;  lowland  lakes,  1.00; 
glacial  lakes,  .55;  the  larger  rivers,  .47.  This  species  also  shows 
a  notable  preference  for  the  more  quiet  and  muddier  parts  of 
the  streams  it  inhabits,  as  shown  by  our  ratios  of  1.58  for  a 
muddy  bottom  and  2.37  for  stagnant  water  or  a  quiet  current. 
Notwithstanding  the  similar  ecological  distribution  of  the  black 
and  yellow  bullheads,  they  show  an  observable  tendency  to  a 
local  separation,  as  illustrated  by  a  study  of  our  collections  of 
the  species  in  detail,  247  of  the  black  bullhead  and  122  of  the 
yellow.  These  represent  319  separate  collections  of  fishes,  only 
50  of  which  contain  examples  of  the  .two  species  together,  the 
less  numerous  species,  natalis,  occurring  in  72  of  these  collections 
without  the  more  numerous  one.*  With  reference  to  the 

*  Recurring  to  our  detailed  collection  records,  bringing  into  comparison  as  to  frequency 
of  associate  occurrence  natalis  and  nebulosus  on  the  one  hand  and  natalis  and  melas  on  the 
other,  and  computing  the  coefficients  of  association  for  each  of  these  two  pairs  of  species,  we 
get  for  the  first  pair  a  larger  coefficient  (3.07)  than  for  the  second  pair  (2.12).  Since  the  species 
of  the  first  pair  differ  widely  in  the  kinds  of  water  bodies  which  they  principally  inhabit  and 
those  of  the  second  pair  agree  closely  in  this  respect,  we  see  in  the  distribution  of  these  species 


192  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

different  sections  of  the  state,  we  find  this  bullhead  most  abun- 
dant in  the  creeks  of  the  Mississippi  bluffs  and  in  the  valleys  of 
the  Wabash  and  the  Kaskaskia,  where  its  ratios  of  frequency, 
mentioned  in  the  above-named  order,  are  1.23,  1.58,  and  1.71. 
We  have  found  it  least  abundant  in  the  streams  of  the  Michigan 
drainage. 

Generally  speaking,  it  is  not  distributed  so  far  to  the  north- 
ward or  eastward  as  our  other  abundant  bullheads.  Its  range 
extends  from  the  Genesee  River  in  New  York  through  the  Great 
Lakes  of  Ontario,  Erie,  and  Michigan  to  the  Missouri  basin, 
which  it  seems  to  occupy  thoughout,  and  thence  southward  to 
Kansas,  Alabama,  and  Texas.  It  is  especially  abundant  west 
of  the  Mississippi.  It  is  said  by  Jordan  to  thrive  in  small 
ponds,  particularly  in  those  with  a  mud  bottom. 

When  the  studies  on  the  food  of  fishes  from  which  our  infor- 
mation on  that  subject  is  chiefly  drawn,  were  made  by  the  senior 
writer  in  1888,  this  species  was  not  clearly  distinguished  from  the 
brown  bullhead,  nebulosus,  and  the  statements  made  under  the 
latter  head  relate  in  part  to  the  present  species.  The  food  of  36 
specimens,  doubtless  composed  of  these  two  species  commingled, 
is  distinguished  by  the  fact  that  nearly  a  fourth  of  it  consisted  of 
aquatic  vegetation  of  various  kinds,  including  distillery  refuse 
eaten  by  one  of  the  fishes.  Two  of  these  bullheads  had  filled 
themselves  with  other  fish,  a  sunfish  and  a  perch  among  them. 
Small  bivalve  mollusks  made  a  fifth  of  the  food,  and  river  snails 
and  aquatic  insects — the  latter  somewhat  more  than  a  fourth 
of  the  entire  quantity — together  with  crawfishes  and  other 
crustaceans,  were  the  other  more  important  elements. 

The  habits  of  the  species  are,  so  far  as  known,  very  similar  to 
those  of  the  brown  bullhead.  It  is  of  smaller  size,  and,  owing 
to  its  local  distribution,  is  not  very  common  in  the  market 
catches,  which  are  usually  made  from  the  larger  streams. 

This  fish  was  spawning  at  Meredosia  May  4,  1899. 

evidence  of  two  methods  of  avoiding  competition  over  the  same  territory,  one  by  a  difference 
of  preference  as  to  size  and  kinds  of  waters  inhabited  (natalis  and  nebulosus)  and  the  other  by 
a  difference  in  the  kinds  of  situations  chiefly  frequented  (natalis  and  mdas).  A  similar  com- 
putation for  natalis  and  nabulosus  gives  us  a  still  smaller  associative  coefficient  (1.9).  In  other 
words,  of  these  three  pairs  of  species,  the  yellow  and  the  brown  bullheads  are  found  least  fre- 
quently in  the  same  kinds  of  waters,  and  least  frequently  also  in  the  same  situations;  the  black 
and  the  yellow  bullheads  are  found  most  frequently  in  the  same  kinds  of  waters,  but  with  medium 
frequency  in  the  same  situations;  and  the  yellow  and  the  brown  species  are  found  least  frequently 
in  the  same  waters,  but  most  frequently  associated  in  the  same  situations. 


LEPTOPS  193 

GENUS  LEPTOPS  EAFINESQUE 

Body  elongate,  and  much  depressed  anteriorly.  Head  large,  wide  and 
depressed;  skull  covered  with  thick  skin;  supraoccipital  bone  entirely  free 
from  head  of  second  interspinal.  Teeth  in  broad  bands  on  premaxillaries 
and  dentaries,  the  band  of  teeth  on  upper  jaw  continued  backward  on  each 
side  in  an  elongated  triangular  extension.  Lower  jaw  longer  than  upper. 
Dorsal  spine  enveloped  in  thick  skin.  Anal  rays  about  13.  Caudal  ob- 
long, subtruncate,  with  numerous  accessory  rays.  One  species  known;  a 
large  catfish,  living  in  the  muddy  bottoms  of  deep  rivers. 

LEPTOPS  OLIVARIS    (EAFINESQUE) 

MUD-CAT;  YELLOW  CAT;  GOUJON;  MORGAN  CAT 

(MAP  LVI) 

Raflnesque,  1818,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  355  (Silurus). 

G.,  V,  101  (Pimelodus  punctulatus) ;  J.  &  G.,  102  and  881  (Pilodictis) ;   M.  V.,  41;   J. 

&  E.(  I,  143;   N.,  50   (Hopladelus) ;   J.,  67   (Pelodicthys);   F.,  83;   F.  F.,  II.  7,  462; 

L..,  10. 

Body  elongate,  depth  4.4  to  5.2  in  length,  back  broad  and  flattened  as 
far  back  as  origin  of  ventrals,  the  region  between  ventrals  and  front  of  adipose 
very  nearly  cylindrical;  caudal  peduncle  narrow  and  compressed,  2.5  to  3.1 
in  head;  profile  straight  as  far  as  nape,  the  elevation  from  nape  to  dorsal 
somewhat  abrupt.  Size  large,  reaching  a  weight  of  50  to  75  pounds.  Color 
usually  dark  olive,  variously  mottled  in  the  young,  the  mottling  tending  to 
become  obsolete  in  adults;  upper  parts  darker,  belly  yellowish  or  grayish; 
fins  colored  about  as  adjacent  parts  of  body,  usually  darker  near  margins; 
dorsal  and  adipose  fins  marbled  with  darker  in  young  specimens.  Head  long 
and  very  broad,  much  depressed  and  exceedingly  flattened  above,  its  length 
3.2  to  4,  its  width  3.7  to  4.4  in  length  of  body;  interorbital  space  very  wide 
and  almost  flat,  2  to  2.4  in  head;  lower  jaw  longer  than  upper,  lips  rather  thin: 
barbels  short  and  slender,  the  maxillary  pair  falling  much  short  of  gill-opening; 
eye  very  small,  8  to  14  in  head,  situated  far  forward  and  high  up  on  head  and 
directed  obliquely  upward.  Dorsal  spine  very  slender,  its  length  about  ^/> 
height  of  fin;  distance  from  snout  2.3  to  2.5  in  length.  Caudal  very  little 
emarginate.  Anal  short,  its  rays  12  to  15.  Pectoral  spine  short  and  robust, 
3  to  4.4  in  head,  much  flattened  dorso-ventrally,  its  anterior  and  posterior 
edges  roughened  or  weakly  serrate;  humeral  process  short,  its  length  less 
than  ^  of  pectoral  spine. 

This  huge  catfish,  one  of  the  largest  of  our  river  species,  is 
common  in  the  Illinois  and  the  Mississippi  rivers,  and  occurs  in 
our  collections  from  the  Rock  and  the  Wabash.  We  have  it 
also  from  a  branch  of  the  Little  Wabash,  in  Wayne  county; 
from  Crooked  creek,  in  Brown  county;  and  from  Spoon  and 
Green  rivers.  Our  frequency  coefficients  are  3.25  for  the  larger 
rivers,  1.29  for  the  smaller,  .5  for  lowland  lakes,  and  .34  for 
creeks.  It  is  perhaps  best  known  to  the  fishermen  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River  as  the /'Morgan  cat/'  and  less  often  referred  to  as 


194  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

the   "cushawn,"   a  corruption  of  the   French  goujon.     Other 
local  names  are  mud-cat,  flat-belly,  and  nigger-belly. 

This  fish  frequently  reaches  a  weight  of  50  to  75  pounds, 
and  is  said  by  Dr.  Evermann  occasionally  to  weigh  as  much  as 
a  hundred  pounds.  It  lives  and  feeds  on  or  near  the  bottom, 
and  fishermen  at  Havana  say  that  they  frequently  find  it  in 
hollow  logs.  Fishes  are,  so  far  as  known,  its  principal  food. 
Among  those  eaten  by  it  we  have  observed  a  common  river 
sunfish  (Lepomis),  several  minnows,  and  a  bullhead.  In  the 
Southern  States,  fresh  hickory-shad  is  greatly  valued  as  a  live 
bait  for*  the  mud-cat,  and  crawfishes  and  cut  bait  made  from 
eels  are  also  used.  This  fish  is  caught  both  on  set-lines  and  in 
fyke-nets,  and  is  often  taken  by  jugging,  the  bait  being  attached 
to  a  jug  filled  with  air,  the  effect  of  which  is  finally  to  bring  the 
worn-out  fish  to  the  surface.  It  is  commonly  regarded  as  one  of 
the  very  best  of  the  catfishes  for  food,  the  flesh  being  of  a  fine 
texture  and  an  excellent  flavor.  The  spawning  time  in  Illinois 
is  in  May  or  later,  according  to  Havana  fishermen.  The  species 
is  found  in  all  suitable  waters  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
and  in  the  Gulf  states,  from  Alabama  west  and  south  to  Mexico. 
It  is  most  abundant  in  the  lower  courses  of  the  larger  streams, 
and  in  the  bayous  and  overflow  ponds  of  the  lower  Mississippi 
Valley. 

GENUS  NOTURUS   (EAFINESQUE) 

Form  more  or  less  elongate,  the  head  broad  and  much  flattened  above, 
the  body  behind  dorsal  nearly  cylindrical.  Skin  thick  and  tough  and  ap- 
preciably villose.  Band  of  teeth  in  upper  jaw  with  a  backward  prolongation 
on  each  side,  as  in  Leptops.  Adipose  fin  adnate  to  the  back,  separated  from 
the  caudal  by  a  notch,  as  in  Schilbeodes.  A  poison  gland  present  at  base  of 
pectoral  fin.  The  single  species  belonging  to  this  genus  is  similar  in  ap- 
pearance and  habit  to  the  species  of  Schilbeodes,  though  it  grows  to  a  much 
greater  size  and  frequents  large  streams  rather  than  brooks.  The  broad  flat 
skull  of  Noturus,  the  dentition,  and  the  thick  and  villose  skin,  are  characters 
which  ally  the  genus  closely  with  Leptops. 

NOTURUS  FLAVUS  EAFINESQUE 

STONECAT 
(MAP  LVII) 

Raflnesque,  1818,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  41. 

G.,  V,  104  (also  platycephalus);  J.  &  G.,  100;  M.  V.,  41;   J.  &  E.,  I,  144;   N.,  50;   J., 
67;  F.(  84;  L,.,  10. 

Body  moderately  elongate,  broad  and  flattened  in  front  of  dorsal,  sub- 
cylindrical  behind  it,  the  tail  compressed;  depth  4  to  5  in  length.  Length  9 


XOTURUS  195 

inches.*  Color  above  almost  uniform  olive-green,  sometimes  blackish;  sides 
of  head  and  body  shading  to  yellowish  brown  or  yellow,  belly  whitish;  a 
saddle-like  or  crescentic  blotch  of  yellowish  or  gray  behind  dorsal  and  usually  a 
large  but  fainter  squarish  one  in  front  of  it;  lips,  chin,  and  lower  barbels 
yellow;  fins  of  about  same  shade  as  adjacent  parts,  with  edges  paler.  Head 
very  broad,  much  flattened  above,  its  length  3.6  to  3.9,  its  width  4  to  5  in 
length  of  body;  upper  jaw  projecting,  lips  thick  and  coarsely  striate;  maxillary 
barbels  short,  about  half  length  of  head;  eye  4.6  to  6  in  head,  placed  high  and 
directed  well  upward.  Dorsal  fin  small,  its  distance  2.4  to  2.8  in  body,  the 
spine  very  short,  but  little  more  than  %  the  height  of  fin.  Caudal  not  quite 
symmetrically  rounded,  the  upper  posterior  margin  usually  truncate;  notch 
between  adipose  and  caudal  deep.  Anal  fin  of  about  16  rays.  Pectoral  spine 
with  a  few  weak  retrorse  teeth  on  its  anterior  edge  near  tip,  the  posterior  edge 
entire  or  very  little  roughened;  humeral  process  very  short. 

This  interesting  little  fish,  commonest  under  stones  in  swift 
waters  in  the  larger  creeks  and  smaller  rivers,  is  rather  abundant 
and  widely  distributed  throughout  the  northern  half  of  the  state, 
but  has  not  been  once  taken  by  us  south  of  Douglas  county. 
It  is  hence  wholly  absent  from  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation, 
and  is  confined  to  the  Mississippi  drainage,  in  our  experience, 
except  for  three  localities  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Big  Vermilion 
and  the  Kaskaskia.  The  frequency  ratios  of  our  40  collections 
are  3.19  for  the  smaller  rivers,  2.06  for  creeks,  and  .58  for  the 
largest  streams.  It  has  not  once  appeared  from  stagnant  waters 
of  either  highland  or  lowland  lakes.  Its  decided  preference  for  a 
swift  current  and  a  clean  bottom  is  shown  by  our  coefficients 
of  5.31  for  the  latter  situation  and  2.75  for  the  former. 

The  peculiar  limitation  of  the  range  of  this  fish  in  Illinois 
seems  entirely  independent  of  its  general  distribution,  which 
includes  the  territory  from  Canada  through  the  Great  Lakes 
to  Virginia  and  Tennessee,  and  thence  west  and  southwest  to 
Montana,  Wyoming,  Nebraska,  and  Texas.  In  Indiana  it 
occurs,  according  to  Hay,  in  the  Wabash  and  its  tributaries, 
in  the  Kaskaskia,  and  in  Lake  Michigan,  the  St.  Joseph  River, 
and  the  small  lakes  of  northern  Indiana. 

The  species  has  very  little  value  as  food  on  account  of  its 
small  size,  which  seldom  exceeds  a  length  of  twelve  inches.  It 
is  much  dreaded  by  fishermen  because  of  the  pain  produced  by 
the  punctures  of  its  poisoned  pectoral  spines.  It  seems  to 
have  no  common  name,  being  doubtless  usually  mistaken  for 
a  young  bullhead.  Together  with  the  other  stonecats  it  may 
be  easily  distinguished  from  the  bullheads  (Ameiurus)  by  the  fact 

*  Largest  one  in  our  Laboratory  collections.     Jordan  says  it  sometimes  reaches  12  inches. 


196  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

that  the  long  and  low  adipose  fin  is  continuous  with  the  caudal 
except  for  a  shallow  notch,  while  these  fins  are  wholly  separate 
in  the  other  catfishes.  According  to  Dr.  Jordan,  it  lurks 
habitually  under  stones  and  logs.  Dr.  Eigenmann  reports  that 
the  eggs  of  this  species  were  laid,  in  Turkey  creek,  Indiana,  in 
the  latter  half  of  June,  in  depressions  under  boards,  and  that 
they  were  apparently  watched  by  the  adult.  The  young  re- 
main for  some  time  in  the  nest  after  hatching. 


GENUS  SCHILBEODES  BLEEKER 

Body  more  or  less  elongate,  subcylindrical  anteriorly,  the  tail  compressed. 
Head  less  depressed  than  in  Noturus.  Skin  rather  thin,  very  finely  villose  or 
almost  smooth.  Supraoccipital  bone  free  from  head  of  second  interspinal. 
Teeth  subulate,  in  broad  bands,  the  band  of  upper  jaw  abruptly  truncated 
at  each  end  as  in  Ameiurus  (without  lateral  backward  extensions  as  in  Leptops 
and  Noturus).  Adipose  fin  long  and  low,  connected  with  the  accessory  rays 
of  the  caudal,  from  which  it  may  or  may  not  be  separated  by  a  notch.  Caudal 
fin  obliquely  truncated  or  rounded,  with  numerous  rudimentary  or  accessory 
rays  both  above  and  below  caudal  peduncle.  Anal  fin  short,  its  rays  12  to  23. 
Ventrals  much  rounded.  A  poison  gland  present  beneath  the  epidermis 
surrounding  base  of  pectoral  spine. 


KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  SCHILBEODES  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Pectoral  spine  entire  behind  or  only  slightly  roughened  near  base;*  adipose 

fin  continuous  with  caudal,  the  notch  being  absent  or  faint,  never  acute. 

b.  Jaws  equal;    anterior  and   posterior  edges   of  pectoral   spine   entire,   or   the 

anterior  edge  very  slightly  roughened  near  tip;  color  purplish  olive  to  dark 

brownish,  without  noticeable  specking;  three  dark  streaks  on  sides 

gyrinus. 

bb.  Lower  jaw  included;  pectoral  spine  entire  In  front  or  with  1  or  2  obscure 
points  near  tip,  entire  or  weakly  toothed  near  base  behind;  color  dark 
brown  to  blackish,  flecked  rather  coarsely  with  darker;  dorsal,  anal,  and 
caudal  fins  pale-edged nocturnus. 

aa.  Pectoral  spine  with  distinct  posterior  serrse,  which  are  recurved  and  in 
length  more  than  %  the  diameter  of  spine;  notch  between  adipose  and 
caudal  fins  always  more  or  less  acute. 

c.  Pectoral  spine  short,  3  in  head,  the  posterior  serrse  not  %  diameter  of  spine; 

notch  between  caudal  and  adipose  fins  usually  shallow;   color  light  brown, 
sometimes  faintly  mottled;  a  large  squarish  spot  of  lighter  color  on  back 

before  dorsal  and  a  smaller  crescentic  one  behind  it exilis. 

cc.  Pectoral  spine  longer,  less  than  2  in  head,  its  posterior  serrse  strong  and  in 
length  nearly  equaling  diameter  of  spine;  notch  between  adipose  and  cau- 
dal fins  deep  and  acute;  color  grayish  with  black  specks  and  larger 
blotches;  4  saddle-like  blotches  on  back,  the  last  but  one  extending  upon 
adipose  fin  to  its  edge miurus. 


*  Arkansas  specimens  of  S.  nocturnus  have  a  few  short  sharp  teeth  near  base  behind  (Jordan). 


Tadpole  Cat,  ScMlbeodes  gyrinus  (Mitchill) 


Freckled  Stonecat,  ScMlbeodes  nocturnus  (Jordan  &  Gilbert) 


Slender  Stonecat,  Schilbcodes  ex-ilis  (Nelson) 


Brindled  Stonecat,  Schilbeodes  miurus  (Jordan) 


SCHILBEODES  197 

SCHILBEODES  GYRINUS   (MITCHILL) 

TADPOLE   CAT 

(MAP  LVIII) 

Mitchill,  1818,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  322  (Silurus). 

J.  &  G.,  98  (Noturus);   M.  V.,  42  (Noturus);  J.  &  E.,  I,  146;  J.,  68  (Noturus  sialis); 
F.,  84  (Noturus);   F.  F.  II,  7,  462  (Noturus);   K,  10. 

Form  robust,  the  body  shorter  and  deeper  than  in  other  species;  depth 
3.8  to  4.4  in  length.  Length  of  adults  3  to  5  inches.  Color  olivaceous  to 
almost  blackish,  top  of  head  darker;  translucence  of  skin  giving  rise  to  a 
marked  light  purplish  or  flesh  color  on  sides  in  strong  light;  a  dark  median 
lateral  streak  on  side  extending  to  base  of  caudal,  a  similar  fainter  one  near 
belly,  and  two  higher  up  on  side,  the  upper  one  extending  along  base  of 
adipose  fin;  belly,  breast,  and  chin  yellowish;  pupil  dull  dark  blue,  iris  bluish, 
tinged  with  gold  or  coppery;  fins  plain,  all  except  ventrals  and  pectorals  a 
rather  dusky  olive.  Head  large  and  fleshy;  broad  forward,  short  and  flat, 
the  contour  from  snout  to  dorsal  steep  and  almost  straight;  length  of  head 
3.2  to  3.9,  width  3.6  to  4.9  in  length  of  body;  interorbital  space  1.6  to  2.1  in 
head,  eye  6.3  to  7.6;  jaws  about  equal;  barbels  barely  reaching  gill-opening. 
Dorsal  fin  placed  well  forward,  its  distance  2.5  to  2.9  in  length;  the  spine 
rather  long,  more  than  Yi  the  height  of  fin,  2.4  to  2.9  in  head.  Caudal  rather 
long,  broadened  mesially  and  tapering  slightly  to  its  truncate  end.  Anal 
short,  its  rays  13  to  15.  Pectoral  spine  strong,  its  length  1.9  to  2.4  in  head, 
tapering  evenly  from  the  base  to  the  sharply  pointed  tip,  its  upper  surface 
strongly  ridged  and  grooved  diagonally,  not  flattened  as  in  S.  nocturnus;  the 
anterior  edge  entirely  smooth  or  with  2  or  3  obscure  points  near  tip;  posterior 
edge  smooth;  humeral  process  moderate,  its  length  less  than  4  in  pectoral 
spine.  Lateral  line  developed  anteriorly,  much  interrupted  or  altogether 
wanting  on  posterior  half  of  body. 

This  fish,  although  distributed  throughout  the  state,  is 
most  abundant  in  our  collections  to  the  southward  and  eastward 
in  the  branches  of  the  Kaskaskia  and  the  Wabash.  The  species 
enters  with  special  freedom  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation, 
avoided  by  Noturus  fiavus.  We  have  found  it  about  equally 
common  in  large  rivers,  creeks,  and  lowland  and  upland  Jakes, 
but  for  some  unexplained  reason  only  three  of  our  193  collec- 
tions have  come  from  the  smaller  rivers.  It  is  more  abundant, 
relatively  to  the  number  of  collections  made,  in  still  and  muddy 
waters  than  in  those  with  a  rapid  current  and  a  clean  bottom, 
our  frequency  coefficients  for  the  first  and  second  of  these 
situations  being  1.47  and  1.45  respectively.  According  to  Pro- 
fessor Hay,  it  is  accustomed  to  hide  under  stones  and  logs. 

Generally  speaking,  it  is  a  species  of  wide  range,  from  the 
Hudson  River  on  the  east  through  the  Great  Lakes  to 
the  Dakotas  and  Montana,  and  from  this  line  southward  to  the 


198  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

Florida  peninsula  and  through  the  valleys  of  the  Missouri  and 
Ohio  to  the  Tombigbee  River  in  Alabama. 

Though  the  commonest  of  the  stonecats  in  Illinois,  it  is 
nevertheless  not  usually  distinguished  by  fishermen,  and  has  no 
generally  accepted  common  name.  Like  the  other  species  of 
this  name,  it  is  provided  with  poison  glands,  placed  just  beneath 
the  epidermis  surrounding  the  spines  of  the  pectoral  and  dorsal 
fins,  and  the  wound  from  either  of  these  spines  is  little  less 
painful  than  a  bee's  sting.  These  glands  are  ductless,  and  the 
poison  which  they  secrete  is  only  liberated  when  the  epidermis 
of  the  spine  is  torn. 

The  food  of  13  specimens  examined,  consisted  almost  wholly 
of  amphipod  and  isopod  Crustacea,  of  various  forms  of  Ento- 
mostraca,  and  of  insect  larvae  (case-worms,  day-flies,  and  gnats) 
of  kinds  likely  to  be  found  on  the  bottom.  A  single  specimen 
had  eaten  a  small  fish,  and  another  a  planarian  worm. 

Males  and  females  taken  by  us  June  8  were  already  spent, 
and  the  spawning  season  probably  falls  in  May. 

This  little  fish  is  too  small  to  be  used  for  any  purpose  except 
as  bait.  It  is  said  to  be  very  tenacious  of  life,  and  to  serve  as 
an  excellent  bait  for  black  bass,  against  which  its  formidable 
defensive  apparatus  evidently  does  not  protect  it. 

SCHILBEODES   NOCTURNUS    (JORDAN   &   GILBERT) 

FRECKLED  STONECAT 
(PL.,  P.  196) 

Jordan  &  Gilbert,  1886,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  6  (Noturus). 
J.  &  E.,  I,  146;  L,.,  10. 

Moderately  robust,  but  less  so  than  in  S.  gyrinus,  the  head  narrower 
forward  and  the  profile  less  steep  than  in  that  species;  depth  4.8  to  5.1  in 
length.  Size  small,  not  found  over  3  inches.  Color  a  uniform  dark  brown, 
thickly  and  rather  coarsely  flecked  with  black,  except  on  breast  and  belly; 
dorsal,  adipose,  caudal,  and  anal  fins  specked  with  black  much  as  body,  but 
with  narrow  edgings  of  pale.  Head  short  and  moderately  broad,  its  length 
3.8  to  4.1  in  body,  its  greatest  width  in  opercular  region,  narrower  forward, 
4.3  to  4.6  in  body;  interorbital  space  1.9  to  2.4  in  head;  eye  moderate,  4.8  to 
6  in  head;  upper  jaw  longer  than  lower;  barbels  short  and  robust,  the  maxil- 
lary pair  falling  considerably  short  of  gill-openings.  Distance  from  snout  to 
dorsal  2.8  to  3  in  length;  dorsal  spine  short,  scarcely  half  the  height  of  fin,  2.4 
to  3.4  in  head.  Caudal  long  and  somewhat  tapered  terminally.  Anal  fin 
short,  of  15  to  16  rays,  Pectoral  spine  moderate,  its  length  2  to  2.1  in  head, 
slender  towards  base  and  widening  outward,  the  tip  acute;  the  upper  surface 
comparatively  flat  and  the  diagonal  grooves  inconspicuous;  the  anterior  edge 


SCHILBEODES  199 

with  2  or  3  obscure  points  near  tip,  posterior  edge  smooth  or  with  a  few  weak 
teeth  near  base  (not  found  in  Illinois  specimens) ;  humeral  process  about  4  in 
pectoral  spine.  Lateral  line  usually  complete. 

This  little  species  is  rare  in  Illinois,  having  been  taken  by 
us  but  eight  times — twice  from  creeks  near  Havana,  three  times 
from  creeks  near  Lincoln,  twice  from  tributaries  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia  in  Clinton  and  Shelby  counties,  and  once  from  Camp 
creek  in  Henderson  county.  Outside  our  limits  it  is  reported 
from  sandy  streams  of  the  lower  Wabash  basin  in  Indiana,  from 
the  Poteau,  Washita,  and  Saline  rivers  in  Arkansas,  and  from 
the  Sabine,  Trinity,  and  Lampasas  rivers  in  Texas.  It  appears 
to  be  nowhere  common,  and  we  have  no  information  concern- 
ing its  natural  relations  or  special  habits. 

SCHILBEODES  EXILIS   (NELSON) 

SLENDER   STONECAT 
(PL.,  p.  196) 

Nelson,  1876,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.  1,  51  (Noturus). 

J.  &  G.,  100   (Noturus);   M.  V.,  42  (Noturus);   J.  &  E.,  I,  147;  J.,  67  (Noturus);   F., 
84   (Noturus);   L.,  10. 

Elongate,  the  slenderest  of  our  stonecats,  the  body  almost  cylindrical  in 
region  of  dorsal,  depth  4.9  to  6  in  length,  diminishing  but  slightly  to  caudal 
peduncle;  profile  low.  Length  3  to  4  inches.  Color  yellowish  brown,  uni- 
form on  sides,  but  darker  above,  with  a  crescentic  spot  of  lighter  color  on 
back  behind  dorsal  and  a  larger  squarish  one  on  occiput;  median  fins  pale  or 
slightly  dusky  with  darker  margins,  the  contrast  in  color  most  marked  in 
the  dorsal.  Head  small,  narrow  and  depressed,  its  length  3.9  to  4.3  in  body, 
its  width  4.8  to  5.8;  interorbital  space  2.2  to  2.9  in  head;  jaws  nearly  equal, 
the  upper  very  slightly  longer  than  lower;  maxillary  barbels  not  reaching 
gill-openings;  eye  5.3  to  7.3  in  head.  Dorsal  fin  small  and  low,  placed  well 
forward,  its  distance  from  snout  2.9  to  3.1  in  length;  the  spine  short  and 
sharp,  scarcely  half  the  height  of  fin.  Caudal  symmetrically  rounded  pos- 
teriorly; its  accessory  rays  numerous  and  well  developed;  the  notch  between 
adipose  and  caudal  variable,  usually  obscure,  sometimes  acute.  Anal  fin 
with  14  to  17  rays.  Pectoral  spine  short  and  sharp,  2.7  to  3.1  in  head,  weakly 
serrate  anteriorly  near  tip,  the  basal  %  of  the  posterior  margin  furnished 
with  about  6  slender  teeth,  whose  length  is  about  ^  the  diameter  of  the 
spine;  humeral  process  obscure. 

This  little  stonecat  was  originally  described  in  the  first 
volume  of  the  Bulletin  of  the  Illinois  State  Laboratory  of  Nat- 
ural History,  from  specimens  found  in  the  Illinois  River.  We 
have  since  taken  it  from  the  Pecatonica  at  Freeport,  in  Stephen- 
son  county;  from  the  Du  Page  River  in  Will  county;  from  Honey 
creek  in  Henderson  county;  and  from  two  creeks  in  Union 


200  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

county,  in  extreme  southern  Illinois.  It  is  also  reported  from 
Wisconsin,  from  the  Tippecanoe  River  in  Indiana,  from  the 
Arkansas  River,  and  from  the  streams  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
Missouri  basin  as  far  west  as  Kansas. 


SCHILBEODES  MIURUS   (JORDAN) 

BRINDLED    STONECAT 
(PL.,  P.  196;  MAP  LIX) 

Jordan,  1877,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  T.,  Vol.  XI,  371  (Noturus). 
J.  &  G.,  99  (Noturus);   M.  V.,  42   (Noturus);   J.  &  E.,  I,  148;   N.,  50   (Noturus  mar- 
ginatus);   J.,  68   (Noturus);   F.,  84   (Noturus);   L.,  10. 

Body  broad  anteriorly,  though  scarcely  robust;  slender  and  compressed 
posteriorly;  depth  4.6  t/o  5.6  in  length;  profile  rather  steep  and  nearly  straight. 
Length  3j/£  inches.  Color  grayish  with  black  specks  and  larger  blotches; 
the  back  crossed  by  more  or  less  definite  saddle-like  blotches  of  black,  one 
before  dorsal,  one  behind  it,  one  on  adipose,  and  a  fainter  one  at  base  of 
caudal,  the  last  blotch  but  one  extending  into  adipose  fin  to  its  edge;  tip  of 
dorsal,  caudal,  and  anal  blackish.  Head  wide  and  extremely  depressed 
anteriorly,  much  higher  behind;  interorbital  space  flat,  2.1  to  2.5  in  head; 
length  of  head  3.5  to  3.9  in  body,  width  3.9  to  4.3;  upper  jaw  a  little  longer 
than  lower;  maxillary  barbels  hardly  reaching  gill-openings;  eye  large,  4.3 
to  5  in  head.  Dorsal  fin  higher  than  long,  its  distance  from  snout  2.6  to  2.8 
in  length;  the  spine  long,  more  than  half  the  height  of  the  fin.  Notch  between 
adipose  and  caudal  usually  deep  and  acute,  the  caudal  tapering  terminally. 
Anal  short,  the  rays  13  to  15.  Pectoral  spines  long,  1.5  to  1.8  in  head,  much 
curved;  the  basal  %  of  anterior  edge  very  finely  serrate,  the  posterior  margin 
with  6  to  8  strong  hooks,  whose  length  is  more  than  half  the  diameter  of  the 
spine;  humeral  process  short. 

In  our  Illinois  collections  this  species  has  been  taken  but  30 
times,  and,  with  a  single  exception,  from  localities  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  state  on  the  tributaries  of  the  Wabash  and  the  Ohio. 
It  has  occurred  once  in  the  extreme  headwaters  of  the  Kaskas- 
kia,  in  close  proximity  to  upper  branches  of  the  Embarras,  in 
which  we  have  found  it  several  times.  It  contrasts.  Iiowever, 
in  distribution  with  Noturus  flavus,  occupying  those  parts  of 
the  state  which  the  former  does  not  penetrate.  Indeed,  these 
two  species  have  been  taken  together  in  only  one  of  our  collec- 
tions. It  agrees  closely  with  flavus  in  its  ecological  preferences, 
being,  like  that  species,  found  only  in  running  streams  (but 
most  abundantly  in  creeks)  and  absent,  so  far  as  our  observations 
go,  from  standing  waters.  It  likewise  agrees  with  flavus  in  its 
preference  for  a  clean  bottom  and  a  swift  current.  The  relations 
of  these  two  species  to  each  other,  and  of  both  to  Schilbeodes 


SCHILBEODES  201 

gyrinus,  offer  an  interesting  example  of  the  methods  by  which 
closely  related  species  may  avoid  disadvantageous  competition 
with  each  other,  flavus  and  miurus  occupying  similar  situations 
in  similar  waters,  but  mainly  distributed  in  different  parts  of  the 
state,  while  gyrinus,  with  its  general  distribution  covering  the 
area  of  both  the  other  species,  is  related  differently  from  these 
both  to  water  bodies  and  to  situations  in  them.  Like  both  the 
other  species  mentioned,  miurus  has  a  wide  general  range  which 
offers  no  explanation  of  its  limited  distribution  in  Illinois. 

From  the  tributaries  of  Lake  Michigan  on  the  north  it 
ranges  south  to  Louisiana  and  west  to  the  lower  part  of  the  Mis- 
souri basin.  Hay,  in  his  list  of  Indiana  fishes,  mentions  its 
occurrence  in  Minnesota  and  North  Carolina. 


—22  F 


202  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 


ORDER  HAPLOMI 

PIKE-LIKE    FISHES 

Skeleton  bony;  anterior  vertebrae  distinct,  without  Weberian  ossicles; 
ventral  fins  abdominal,  rarely  wanting;  all  fins  soft-rayed,  although  the  first 
dorsal  ray  is  in  a  few  forms  somewhat  stiffened  and  spine-like;  no  adipose  fin; 
pectoral  arch  suspended  from  the  skull;  mesocoracoid  wanting  (this  character 
constituting  the  only  important  distinction  between  these  fishes  and  the 
Isospondyli);  opercular  bones  well  developed;  air-bladder  with  a  distinct 
duct.  Four  families;  species  numerous  and  widely  distributed,  chiefly  in- 
habiting fresh  or  brackish  waters  of  both  hemispheres. 


KEY  TO  FAMILIES  OF    HAPLOMI    FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Vent  normal,  not  far  in  front  of  anal  fin;   eyes  normal. 

b.  Lateral  line  present;    jaws   duck-bill-like •  • Esocidae. 

bb.  Lateral  line  wanting. 

c.  Upper  jaw  not  protractile Umbridae. 

cc.  Upper  jaw  protractile  (the  upper  lip  separated  from  the  skin  of  the  forehead 

by  an  evident  groove,  which  passes  wholly  across  the  muzzle) 

Poeciliidae. 

aa.  Vent  jugular,  in  front  of  pectorals  and  close  'behind  gill-openings;  eyes  more 
or  less  concealed  by  thick  skin;  ventrals  ordinarily  wanting,  or  much 
reduced  \ Amblyopsidae. 


FAMILY  UMBRID^E 

THE   MUDFISHES 

Body  oblong,  broad  anteriorly  and  compressed  behind;  head  somewhat 
flattened;  scales  cycloid,  covering  head  and  body;  lateral  line  wanting; 
skeleton  osseous;  anterior  vertebrae  simple;  no  spines  in  fins;  ventrals  ab- 
dominal; dorsal  fin  posterior;  caudal  rounded;  no  mesocoracoid;  gill-mem- 
branes little  connected;  branchiostegals  6  to  8;  pseudobranchise  hidden, 
glandular;  gill-rakers  little  developed;  mouth  moderate,  premaxillary  not 
protractile;  lateral  margin  of  upper  jaw  formed  by  the  maxillaries,  which  are 
toothless  and  without  distinct  supplemental  bone;  premaxillaries,  lower  jaw, 
vomer,  and  palatines  with  bands  of  villiform  or  cardiform  teeth,  stomach 
without  blind  sac;  no  pyloric  caeca;  air-bladder  simple,  with  distinct  duct; 
oviparous  fishes. 


UMBRA — MUDFISHES  203 

Fishes  of  small  size  and  carnivorous  habit,  inhabiting 
muddy  weedy  bottoms  of  fresh-water  streams  and  ponds;  very 
tenacious  of  life.  One  genus,  with  three  species,  one  European 
and  two  American,  one  of  the  latter  inhabiting  local  waters. 
The  Umbridce  represent  an  archaic  type,  older  than  the  Esotidce, 
and  evidently  characteristic  of  an  earlier  fish  fauna.  Their 
survival  in  forms  so  widely  separated  geographically  is  interest- 
ingly suggestive  to  the  student  of  distribution  and  descent. 

GENUS  UMBRA   (KRAMER)   MULLER 

MUDFISHES 

Generic  characters  included  in  description  of  family.  Size  small;  species 
3,  inhabiting  fresh  waters  of  the  United  States  and  Austria;  one  species 
known  from  Illinois. 


UMBRA  LIMI   (KIRTLAND) 
MUD-MINNOW;  MUDFISH 

(Pi,.,  P.  211;  MAP  LX) 

Kirtland,  1840,  Bost.  J.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ill,  277   (Hydrargira). 

G.,  VI,  232;   J.  &  G.,  350;   M.  V.,  87;   J.  &  E.,  I,  623;   N.,  43  (Melanura);   J.,  52   (Mela- 
nura);   P.,  71;    F.  P.,  I.  6,  73;    L.,  21. 

Length  4  inches;  body  oblong,  compressed,  caudal  peduncle  deep;  depth 
in  length  3.9  to  5  3;  greatest  width  of  body  about  %  its  greatest  depth;  depth 
caudal  peduncle  1.3  to  1.6  in  its  length.  Color  of  upper  parts  dull  brownish 
plive  mottled  with  black;  sides  with  about  14  indefinite  narrow  transverse 
bars  of  dark  color,  the  interspaces  bluish  forward;  breast,  belly,  and  under 
sides  of  head  yellowish;  a  large  black  blotch-like  bar  at  end  of  caudal  pe- 
duncle; a  black  stripe  across  cheek  and  through  eye  to  end  of  snout;  fins  plain 
olive-green,  the  caudal  somewhat  darker  at  center.  Head  3.3  to  3.8;  width 
of  head  1.7  to  1.9  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  nearly  flat,  4.3  to  5.4;  eye 
3.8  to  5.2;  nose  3.9  to  5;  mouth  rather  large,  maxillary  reaching  to  middle  of 
orbit,  2.8  to  3.8  (usually  about  3)  in  head;  teeth  on  premaxillary,  lower  jaw, 
vomer,  and  palatines;  gill-membranes  free  from  isthmus.  Dorsal  fin  14, 
sometimes  15,  inserted  behind  ventrals  and  behind  middle  of  body;  anal  8  or 
9;  caudal  rounded;  pectorals  short,  broad  and  round,  1.6  to  2  in  head.  Scales 
35,  transverse  series  13  or  14;no  lateral  line;opercles  with  large  scalesjscales 
on  opercles  embedded. 

Mud-minnows  are  small  fishes,  few  individuals  exceeding 
five  or  six  inches  in  length.  They  are  frequently  mistaken  by 
fishermen  for  the  young  of  the  dogfish,  from  which,  however, 
they  are  very  readily  distinguished  by  the  short  dorsal  fin. 
They  rest  quietly  upon  the  bottom  much  of  the  time,  and  when 


204  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

disturbed  first  dart  away  to  a  little  distance,  and  then  bury 
themselves,  tail  downwards,  in  the  mud  with  one  or  two  quick 
twists  of  the  body.  They  have  also  the  singular  habit  of  burrow- 
ing into  the  mud  when  the  water  evaporates  from  a  pond. 
Professor  Baird  says  that  a  locality  which,  with  the  water 
perfectly  clear,  will  appear  destitute  of  fish,  will  perhaps  yield 
a  number  of  mudfish  on  stirring  up  the  mud  at  the  bottom  and 
drawing  a  seine  through  it.  Ditches  on  the  plains  of  Wisconsin, 
or  mere  bog-holes  containing  nothing  else  beyond  tadpoles, 
may  thus  be  found  full  of  mudfish. 

The  intestine  is  short,  less  than  the  body  in  length,  the  gill- 
rakers  are  thick  and  rather  long,  about  half  the  length  of  the 
filaments,  and  the  pharyngeal  apparatus  is  insignificant.  The 
food  of  ten  specimens  taken  from  six  localities  consisted  largely 
of  minute  duckweed  (Wolffia)  and  unicellular  algse,  insects  and 
crustaceans  making,  however,  more  than  a  fourth  of  the  food. 
The  latter  were  mainly  Entomostraca.  Thin-shelled  univalve 
mollusks  (Physa)  were  taken  from  two  of  the  specimens,  and 
amphipod  Crustacea  (Crangonyx)  from  one.  Dr.  Abbott  reports 
that  he  has  seen  mud-minnows  leap  out  of  the  water  a  distance 
greater  than  their  length  to  catch  insects  resting  on  blades  of 
grass. 

They  apparently  spawn  in  early  spring,  and  Abbott  reports 
that  in  New  Jersey  he  has  found  them  apparently  ripe  on  the 
16th  of  March,  and  that  even  earlier  than  this  they  were  making 
their  way  up  stream  in  small  brooks,  leaping  from  eddy  to  eddy, 
evidently  on  their  way  to  their  spawning  beds.  We  have 
found  ripe  females  during  the  first  week  of  April  at  Havana. 
Dr.  Ryder  says  that  their  adhesive  eggs  are  laid  singly  upon  the 
leaves  of  aquatic  plants.  Those  observed  by  him  hatched  on 
the  sixth  day. 

This  little  fish  is  rather  peculiarly  distributed  in  Illinois, 
occurring  in  our  collections  almost  entirely  in  the  extreme 
northern  and  the  extreme  southern  parts  of  the  state.  We  have 
elsewhere  taken  it  only  at  Havana  and  Meredosia,  on  the  Illi- 
nois River,  where  it  has  occurred  ten  times  in  nearly  eleven 
hundred  collections.  Its  frequency  coefficients  are  correspond- 
ingly unequal  for  the  three  sections  of  the  state,  those  for  south- 
ern and  nbrthern  Illinois  being  1.48  and  1.28  respectively,  while 
that  for  central  Illinois  is  but  .23.  We  have  found  it  most 
frequently  in  lakes  and  ponds,  and  next  in  the  smaller  rivers. 


ESOCIDJ3 — THE   PIKES  205 

It  is  a  northern  species,  on  the  whole,  ranging  from  Quebec 
and  Ontario  throughout  the  basin  of  the  Great  Lakes  to  the 
Ohio,  and  southward  along  the  Atlantic  as  far  as  New  Jersey, 
and  northward  to  the  Minnesota  River.  We  have  found  no 
record  of  its  occurrence  in  the  Missouri  basin.  It  is  usually 
taken  from  grassy  ponds  and  clear  creeks  with  a  soft  mud  bottom. 

FAMILY  ESOCID/E 

THE   PIKES 

Body  elongate,  more  or  less  compressed  posteriorly;  scales  cycloid, 
covering  body  and  portions  of  head,  which  is  always  naked  above;  lateral 
line  weakly  developed;  skeleton  osseous;  anterior  vertebra  simple;  no  spines 
in  fins;  ventral  fins  abdominal;  dorsal  posterior;  caudal  emarginate;  no 
mesocoracoid;  gill-membranes  separate;  branchiostegals  12  to  20;  pseudo- 
branchiae  glandular,  hidden;  gill-rakers  tubercle-like,  toothed;  mouth  very 
large,  its  cleft  half  of  head;  premaxillaries  not  protractile,  most  of  margin  of 
upper  jaw  formed  by  maxillary,  which  is  furnished  with  supplemental  bone; 
premaxillaries,  vomer,  and  palatines  with  bands  of  strong  cardiform  teeth; 
lower  jaw  with  strong  teeth  of  different  sizes;  tongue  with  a  band  of  small 
teeth;  stomach  not  caecal,  without  pyloric  appendages;  air-bladder  simple, 
with  distinct  duct;  oviparous. 

Fresh  waters  of  northern  parts  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  North 
America.  Size  moderate  or  large.  One  genus  with  six  species, 
all  but  one  confined  to  North  America;  fossil  remains  found  in 
Oligocene  of  Europe.  All  are  of  carnivorous  habit,  being  vora- 
cious and  gamy.  The  flesh  is  flaky  and  of  good  flavor. 

GENUS  ESOX   (AETEDI)  LINNAEUS 

PIKES 
Characters  of  the  genus  included  above. 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  ESOX  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Cheeks  entirely  scaly;  branchiostegals  11  to  16. 

b.  Opercles    entirely    scaly;    dorsal    rays    11    or    12;     scales    105;    color    greenish, 

barred    or    reticulated    with    darker;     fins    without    black    spots;     length    12 

inches  vermiculatus. 

bb.  Opercles  with  the  lower  half  bare  of  scales;  dorsal  rays  14  to  16;  scales  125; 

color  purplish  gray  to  greenish,  with  many  small  whitish  or  yellowish  spots; 

dorsal,  anal,  and  caudal  spotted  with  'black;  length  3  feet lucius. 

aa.  Lower  half  of  both  cheeks  and  opercles  naked;  branchiostegals  17  to  19; 

dorsal   rays    17;    scales    150;    color   dark   gray,    sides    usually    with    scattered 

round  black  spots,   sometimes  without  spots,   sometimes  banded  with   dark; 

fins  spotted  with  black;    length  4  to  8  feet masquinongy. 


206  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

ESOX  VERMICULATUS  LE  SUEUR 
LITTLE  PICKEREL;  GRASS  PIKE 

(MAP  LXI) 

Le  Sueur,  1846,  in  Cuv.  &  Val.,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  XVIII,  333. 

G.,  VI,  230  (cypho);  J.  &  G.,  352  (salmoneus);  M.  V.,  88;  J.  &  E.,  I,  627  (Lucius); 
X.,  43  (salmoneus,  cypho,  and  umbrosus) ;  J.,  53  (salmoneus,  cypho,  and 
ravenelli?);  F.,  71  (Lucius);  F.  F.,  II.  7,  435;  L,.,  21  (Lucius). 

Length  12  inches;  body  elongate,  compressed,  caudal  peduncle  slender; 
depth  5  to  7  (5.2  to  6.7)  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body  about  %  its 
greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  2  to  2.6  in  its  length.  Color  typically 
grassy  to  grayish  green,  with  darker  streaks,  bars,  and  reticulations,  the 
lighter  colored  interspaces  worm-track-like  (hence  vermiculalus) ;  color 
variable,  sometimes  nearly  plain;  centers  of  scales  (sides)  brassy,  blue,  or 
green;  a  yellowish  streak  along  middle  of  back;  belly  white;  head  dark  olive 
with  light  patches;  a  dark  slaty  streak  below  eye;  opercles  grassy  green;  a 
dusky  streak  from  eye  across  cheek  and  opercle;  pupil  dull  bluish  black;  iris 
with  narrow  inner  ring  of  burnt  golden,  rest  brownish  to  blue  and  purplish; 
caudal  mottled  near  base;  other  fins  dusky  in  the  rays,  otherwise  plain.  Head 
3  to  3.4  (usually  greater  than  3.2);  width  of  head  2.8  to  3.2;  interorbital 
concave,  5  to  6.2;  eye  5.5  to  6.8,  midway  of  head;  nose  long,  duck-bill-like, 
shorter  than  in  the  next  species,  2.4  to  2.7  in  head;  mouth  large,  maxillary 
past  front  of  orbit,  2  to  2.4  in  head.  Dorsal  rays  12;  anal  12;  caudal  well 
forked;  ventrals  less  than  half  to  vent;  pectorals  short,  2.8  to  3.3  in  head. 
Scales  103  to  108;  cheeks  and  opercles  fully  scaled;  no  supplementary  lateral 
line. 

This  little  pike,  never  over  12  inches  in  length,  but  frequently 
mistaken  for  the  young  of  a  larger  species,  is  distributed  through- 
out Illinois,  most  abundantly,  however,  according  to  our  ex- 
perience, in  the  southern  part  of  the  state,  where  its  frequency 
coefficient  rises  to  1.73  as  compared  with  .69  for  central  Illinois 
and  .88  for  northern.  It  is  most  abundant  in  creeks,  but  is  also 
quite  common  in  ponds  and  the  smaller  rivers.  It  has  a  notice- 
able preference  for  quiet  and  muddy  waters,  and  the  greater 
part  of  our  collections  have  come  from  the  weedy  branches  of  the 
Embarras,  Little  Wabash,  and  Big  Muddy,  in  eastern  and  central 
Illinois.  It  has  also  occurred  occasionally  in  the  main  stream  of 
the  Illinois,  or  in  the  muddy  overflow  ponds  of  the  bottoms. 
Indeed,  large  numbers  of  this  fish  are  annually  destroyed  by 
the  drying  up  of  such  ponds  after  the  overflow. 

Its  general  range  includes  the  tributaries  of  Lake  Erie  and 
Lake  Michigan,  extending  thence  southward  to  the  Tennessee, 
Escanaba,  and  White  rivers,  and,  according  to  Evermann  and 
Cox,  to  the  Neuse  River  on  the  Atlantic  slope.  From  the  fact 
that  it  is  not  contained  in  Evermann  and  Goldsborough's  list 


ESOX— PIKES  207 

of  the  fresh-water  fishes  of  Canada,  we  infer  that  it  is  not  to 
be  found  north  of  the  Great  Lakes. 

In  its  feeding  structures,  this  little  species  is  a  reduced  copy 
of  the  destructive  and  voracious  common  pike,  and  its  food,  as 
illustrated  by  eighteen  specimens,  seems  to  be  purely  animal. 
Two  of  these  had  eaten  frog  tadpoles,  and  eight  had  taken  fishes, 
one  of  which  was  a  cyprinoid  minnow,  one  a  sunfish,  and  the 
other  a  common  top-minnow  (Gambusia)  of  the  southern  part 
of  the  state.  The  remaining  food  was  mostly  composed  of  the 
larger  aquatic  insects.  Amphipod  and  isopod  crustaceans  have 
been  found  in  the  stomachs  of  other  specimens,  taken  from 
Quiver  Lake,  near  Havana. 

The  species  apparently  spawns  early,  and  ripe  individuals 
of  both  sexes  have  been  seen  by  us  in  March. 

ESOX  LUCIUS  LINN^US 
COMMON  PIKE;  PICKEREL 

(MAP  LXII) 

Linnaeus,  1758,  Syst.  Nat.,  Ed.  X,  314. 

G.,  VI,  228  &   229   (estor  and  depraudus) ;    J.  &  G.,  353;    M.  V.,   89;    J.  &  E.,  I,   628 

(Lucius);    N.,  43    (lucius  var.  estor,  and   ?   boreus) ;    J.,   53;    F.,  71;    F.  F.,  II.  1, 

435;  L.,  21  (Lucius). 

Length  3  feet;  elongate  and  compressed;  depth  5  to  7;  greatest  width 
about  Y*,  greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.7  to  2.2  in  its  length. 
Color  of  back  and  sides  bluish  or  grt  enish  gray  with  more  or  less  of  purplish 
luster;  yellowish  below  and  white  on  belly;  sides  with  irregular  rows  of  small 
roundish  spots  of  yellowish  or  gold;  single  scales  of  side  each  with  a  broad 
V-shaped  golden  spot;  top  of  head  plain  dark  olive-green;  cheeks  and  opercles 
bluish  gray  or  heliotrope  with  pale  greenish  spots;  iris  light  drab  below  with 
golden  margin,  brassy  yellow  above  pupil  and  forward;  all  fins  wax-yellow 
in  the  rays;  dorsal  with  3  to  5  rows  of  roundish  black  spots  equal  in  length  to 
the  width  of  three  membranes;  caudal  and  anal  similarly  marked;  ventrals 
with  faint  traces  of  spots;  pectorals  plain.  Head  2.9  to  3.6  (usually  less  than 
3.4);  width  of  head  about  3;  interorbital  4.3  to  6.2;  eye  5.8  to  9.5,  midway  of 
head;  nose  1.9  to  2.4;  mouth  very  large,  maxillary  past  front  of  orbit,  2  to  2.2 
in  head.  Dorsal  rays  15  or  16;  anal  14  or  15;  ventrals  half  way  to  front  of 
anal;  pectorals  %  to  ventrals,  2.2  to  2.6  in  head  in  adults.  Scales  122  to 
125:  cheeks  fully  scaled;  lower  half  of  opercles  naked;  lateral  line  irregular, 
supplementary  lateral  pores  in  short  and  broken  series  above  and  below  it^ 
especially  on  caudal  peduncle. 

This  noble  fish,  completely  and  almost  ideally  equipped  for 
the  predatory  life,  has  now  nearly  disappeared  from  the  larger 
and  muddier  streams  of  Illinois,  but  is  still  found  in  abundance 
in  the  headwaters  of  the  Kankakee  and  in  the  small  glacial  lakes 


808  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

of  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state.  It  is  also  occasionally 
caught  in  the  clearer  sloughs  and  lakes  (usually  fed  by  springs) 
of  the  Illinois,  Rock,  and  Green  rivers.  Several  specimens  of 
good  size  have  recently  been  taken  by  us  from  the  lock  pond 
at  Henry,  on  the  Illinois. 

It  is  a  cosmopolitan  species  of  the  northern  hemisphere, 
found  in  the  fresh  waters  of  northern  Europe,  Asia,  and  North 
America,  and  ranging  as  far  south  in  Europe  as  Italy  and  Greece. 
In  this  country  it  is  abundant  in  suitable  situations  from  Alaska 
southward  through  Canada,  and  through  the  upper  Mississippi 
Valley  and  the  eastern  United  States  to  the  Potomac  on  the 
Atlantic  slope  and  to  the  Missouri  and  its  branches  in  Iowa 
and  Nebraska. 

The  average  weight  of  the  pike  taken  from  our  region  is  not 
over  5  Ib,  but  a  specimen  weighing  26J/2  pounds  is  reported  by 
Dr.  Jordan  to  have  been  caught  in  the  Kankakee.  The  record 
weight  for  Europe  is  145  Ib — that  of  a  specimen  taken  at  Bre- 
genty  in  1862. 

This  fish  is  commonly  called  pickerel  in  Illinois,  although  its 
more  appropriate  name  of  pike  is  also  sometimes  used.  It  pre- 
fers clean,  clear,  cool  water  of  a  sluggish  current,  in  which  it 
remains  generally  quiet  by  day.  It  is  a  strong  and  active 
swimmer,  extremely  voracious,  and  with  senses  remarkably 
acute.  It  launches  itself  like  an  arrow  upon  its  prey,  seldom 
missing  its  aim,  and  fighting  courageously  with  others  of  its 
kind.  It  is  purely  carnivorous,  its  food  consisting  of  fishes 
among  which  we  have  noticed  sunfish  and  black  bass,  together 
with  frogs,  crawfishes,  and  the  larger  insects.  Mice,  reptiles, 
and  young  ducks  have  been  reported  by  various  authors  to 
have  been  taken  from  the  stomachs  of  pike. 

It  spawns  in  March  in  our  latitude,  selecting  shore  water 
about  a  foot  and  a  half  in  depth.  Professor  Benecke  of  Konigs- 
berg  says  of  this  species,  as  quoted  by  Goode,  that  "it  lives  a 
hermit  life,  only  consorting  in  pairs  during  the  spawning  season. 
The  pairs  of  fish  then  resort  to  shallow  places  upon  meadows 
and  banks  which  have  been  overflowed,  and,  rubbing  violently 
upon  each  other,  deposit  their  spawn  in  the  midst  of  powerful 
blows  of  their  tails."  The  spawning  time  in  east  Prussia  falls 
in  the  months  from  February  to  April,  occasionally  beginning 
before  the  departure  of  the  ice.  A  single  female  may  deposit 
as  many  as  a  hundred  thousand  eggs.  The  young  hatch  in 


ESOX PIKES  209 

about  fourteen  days,  and  may  reach  a  length  of  a  foot  by  the 
end  of  the  first  year. 

The  flesh  of  the  pike  is  of  fairly  good  flavor,  but  is  full  of 
small  bones.  It  is  not  much  prized  in  this  country,  but  is  gen- 
erally more  esteemed  in  Europe.  The  voracity  of  this  fish 
and  its  inferior  quality  as  food  have  led  to  attempts  at  its 
destruction  in  Europe  and  in  parts  of  Canada.  It  is  readily 
captured  with  minnow  bait,  or  with  a  trolling-spoon,  and  will 
also  take  a  fly.  It  is  often  caught  with  a  hook  through  holes 
in  the  ice  in  winter,  and  affords  a  valuable  food  to  many  an 
Indian  hunter  in  the  Canadian  woods. 

This  destructive  fish  has  greatly  decreased  in  numbers  in 
this  state  during  the  last  twenty-five  years.  The  older  fisher- 
men at  Havana  remember  when  a  thousand  pounds  were  caught 
at  a  time,  while  now  scarcely  as  many  will  be  taken  during  an 
entire  year.  In  1899,  according  to  the  report  of  the  United 
States  Fish  Commission,  21,000  pounds  of  pike  were  taken  in 
the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers  within  the  state  of  Illinois. 
The  total  catch  from  the  Mississippi  Valley  was  216,952  pounds, 
having  fallen  to  that  figure  from  809,134  pounds  in  1894. 

ESOX  MASQUINONGY  MITCHILL 

MUSKALLUNGE 
Mitchill,  "Mirror,  297,  1824".* 

The  muskallunge  is  sufficiently  distinguished  from  other  species  of  the 
genus  Esox  in  the  key  preceding. 

This  giant  fish,  reported  to  reach  a  weight  of  a  hundred 
pounds  and  to  average  three  feet  in  length — specimens  six  feet 
feet  long  and  weighing  eighty  pounds  have  been  caught — has 
not  been  taken  by  us  in  Illinois,  although  it  occurs  in  Lake 
Michigan  and  rarely  in  the  smaller  lakes  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  state.  It  is  said  by  Jordan  to  be  native  to  all  the 
Great  Lakes  and  the  upper  St.  Lawrence,  to  certain  streams  and 
lakes  tributary  to  the  Great  Lakes,  and  to  a  few  of  the  lakes  in 
the  upper  Mississippi  Valley.  It  occurs  also  in  Canada  to  the 
northward.  In  Ohio,  according  to  R.  C.  Osburn,  a  variety  of 
the  species,  ohiensis,  distinguished  by  narrow  irregular  cross- 
bars formed  by  the  coalescing  of  spots  upon  the  sides,  is  found 
in  the  Ohio  River  and  its  tributary  streams.  It  is  equally 
esteemed  for  its  game  and  food  qualities. 

*  Reference  on  authority  of  De  Kay. 


210  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

FAMILY  PCECILIIDyE 

THE    KILL! FISHES 

Body  oblong  or  moderately  elongate,  compressed  behind;  head  broad 
and  depressed;  scales  cycloid,  rather  large,  adherent;  head  scaly,  at  least 
above;  lateral  line  wanting  or  represented  by  a  few  imperfect  pores;  skeleton 
bony;  anterior  vertebrae  simple;  fins  without  spines,  or  (rarely)  a  rudimen- 
tary spinous  dorsal,  or  a  single  spine  (not  in  Illinois  forms);  ventrals  ab- 
dominal, rarely  wanting;  dorsal  inserted  posteriorly,  about  over  anal;  caudal 
not  forked;  no  mesocoracoid ;  gill-membranes  somewhat  connected,  free  from 
isthmus;  branchiostegals  4  to  6;  pseudobranchiae  wanting;  gill-rakers  very 
short;  mouth  terminal,  small,  the  lower  jaw  usually  projecting;  premaxillary 
extremely  protractile;  margin  of  upper  jaw  formed  by  premaxillaries;  teeth 
incisor-like  or  villiform,  sometimes  present  on  vomer,  but  usually  on  jaws 
only;  stomach  siphonal,  without  pyloric  appendages;  air-bladder  simple, 
often  wanting;  most  species  oviparous;  some  forms  ovoviviparous,  the 
young  well  developed  at  time  of  birth. 

Fresh-water  fishes  of  small  size,  widely  distributed  in 
Southern  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  and  America.  Some  species 
occur  in  bays  and  arms  of  the  sea,  in  more  or  less  brackish  water. 
Genera  about  35;  species  about  200;  2  genera  and  4  species 
found  in  Illinois. 

Many  of  the  species  of  this  family  are  surface  swimmers, 
"  top-minnows, "  inhabiting  canals,  ponds,  swamps,  and  sluggish 
or  stagnant  streams,  where  they  feed  on  insects  and  other  life 
found  swimming  or  floating  at  the  surface  of  the  water.  Other 
forms  (not  found  in  Illinois)  are  free  swimmers  in  the  river 
channels,  and  still  others  dwell  in  the  mud  of  stream  bottoms. 
Certain  species  are  especially  valuable  as  mosquito  destroyers. 


KEY  TO  GENERA  AND  SPECIES  OF    PCECILIID^E     FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

Fundulus. — Anal  fin  of  the  male  similar  to  that  of  the  female,  not  modified  into  an 
intromittent  organ;   species  oviparous. 

a.  Dorsal  rays  13  or  14;    scales  43-45;    color   olivaceous   with  numerous   dusky 

cross-bars    diaphanus. 

aa.     Dorsal  rays  7  to  9;  scales  28  to  36. 

b.  Scales  33  to  36. 

c.  Sides   with   numerous   narrow   lengthwise   streaks   or  rows   of  dots   of   dark 

color,  the  males  with   dark  cross-bars dispar. 

cc.     A  single  black  lateral  stripe  from  head  to  tail;  males  with  obscure  cross-bars. 

notatus. 

Gambusia. — Anal   fin   of  males   modified   into   a   sword-shaped    intromittent   organ; 

species  viviparous. 
bb.     Scales  28   to  30;    no  evident  stripes  or  cross-bars affinis. 


FUNDULUS — KILLIFISHES  211 

GENUS  FUNDULUS  LACEPEDE 

KILLIFISHES 

Body  rather  elongate,  little  elevated,  compressed  behind  head  broad 
and  flat  above;  mouth  moderate,  lower  jaw  projecting;  jaws  each  with  2,  or 
more,  series  of  pointed  teeth;  preopercle,  preorbital,  and  mandible  with 
conspicuous  mucus  pores;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  rather  similar  in  size,  either 
large  or  small,  the  anal  slightly  higher  in  males  of  some  species  than  in 
females,  but  not  developed  as  an  intromittent  organ;  scales  moderate. 

Species  very  numerous,  mostly  American,  inhabiting  the 
fresh  waters  of  the  interior  and  the  arms  of  the  sea,  on  both 
coasts.  All  are  oviparous.  They  are  all  carnivorous  in  greater 
or  less  degree.  The  three  species  found  in  Illinois*  are  typical 
" top-minnows,"  feeding  on  surface-swimming  insects,  etc. 

FUNDULUS  DIAPHANUS  MENONA   (JORDAN  &  COPELAND) 

MENONA    TOP-MINNOW 
(MAP  LXIII) 

Le  Sueur,  1817,  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci..Phila.,  130  (Hydrargira  diaphana). 
Jordan  &  Copeland,  1877,  P.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  68  (menona). 

J.  &  G.,  335  (menona) ;  M.  V.,  85;  J.  &  B.,  I,  645;  N.,  42  (diaphanus) ;  J.,  52  (menona) ; 
P.,  72  (diaphanus);   F.  P.,  I.  6,  71   (diaphanus);   L,.,  21. 

Length  3  inches;  body  rather  slender  and  not  much  compressed,  caudal 
peduncle  long;  depth  4.5  to  5.3;  greatest  width  about  %  of  greatest  depth; 
depth  caudal  peduncle  2.2  to  2.4  in  its  length.  Color  (males)  light  olivaceous, 
spotted  with  dusky  on  back  and  on  sides  above  lateral  line;  15  to  20  dark 
transverse  bars  on  each  side,  reaching  from  back  to  belly,  broader  than  the 
silvery  interspaces;  belly  silvery  white;  opercles  emerald,  dusted  with  dark, 
specks;  an  emerald-green  spot  behind  opercle;  iris  mingled  iridescent  emerald 
to  lavender,  with  a  narrow  inner  rim  of  gold  next  to  pupil;  fins  pale,  dorsal 
with  a  faint  longitudinal  bar  of  dusky  near  base;  base  of  caudal  with  a  squarish 
golden  spot.  Females  have  dark  bars  shorter  and  narrower  than  in  males, 
and  the  interspaces  wider  than  the  bars,  olivaceous,  without  silvery  luster; 
dorsal  fin  without  dark  bar.  Head  quite  flat  above,  3.5  to  3.9;  width  of  head 
1.9  to  2.2  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  2.8  to  3.1  in  head;  eye  3  to  3.5;  nose 
2.9  to  3.7,  usually  more  than  3.3;  mouth  small,  maxillary  3.6  to  4  in  head, 
mandible  equal  to  eye,  lower  jaw  slightly  projecting;  teeth  pointed,  curved, 
the  outer  ones  scarcely  enlarged.  Dorsal  inserted  in  front  of  ventrals,  its 
rays  13  or  14;  anal  rays  11;  ventrals  short  of  vent;  pectorals  1.7  to  1.9  in 
head.  Scales  43  to  45;  transverse  series  14  or  15;  no  lateral  line;  cheeks  and 
opercles  covered  with  large  scales. 

*  For  key  to  species,  see  key  to  genera  and  species  of  Paciliidce,  preceding. 


212  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

This  little  top-minnow,  rare  in  Illinois  and  taken  by  us  but 
twenty  times,  all  in  the  northern  half  of  the  state,  is,  in  fact,  a 
northern  species  in  the  United  States,  found  outside  Illinois  in 
the  lakes  and  ponds  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  and  Wisconsin, 
and  in  the  Missouri  basin  as  far  south  as  the  Kansas  River. 
The  typical  form  (Fundulus  diaphanus)  occurs  from  the  head- 
waters to  the  brackish  mouths  of  coastwise  streams  from 
Quebec,  New  Brunswick,  and  Maine  to  Cape  Hatteras,  and  in 
the  lakes  of  New  York  State.  Our  Illinois  examples  of  menona 
have  been  mainly  taken  from  upland  lakes  of  the  headwaters 
of  the  Fox  and  Des  Plaines,  from  the  headwaters  of  the  Rock 
River,  from  the  lakes  of  the  Calumet  series,  and  from  pools 
near  Bloomington,  in  McLean  county.  In  Wolf  and  Calumet 
lakes  it  was  most  frequent  near  shore  among  weeds  and  rushes, 
in  clear  water  and  over  a  bottom  of  sand. 

The  food  of  eight  specimens  from  the  northeastern  lakes 
comprised  insects,  both  aquatic  and  terrestrial,  amphipod 
Crustacea  (Attorchestes) ,  various  Entomstraca,  especially  those 
living  upon  the  bottom,  a  few  thin-shelled  univalves  (Planorbis}, 
and  the  seeds  of  plants  which  had  fallen  into  the  water,  these 
last  taken  in  quantity  too  large  to  have  been  accidental. 

Females  moderately  distended  with  large  eggs  were  taken 
by  us  in  Sand  Lake  Aug.  3,  1887,  a  fact  which  indicates  a  late 
spawning  period.  Dr.  Eigenmann,  however,  found  the  eggs 
of  this  species  in  grassy  bottoms  of  Indiana  lakes  June  24. 


FUNDULUS  DISPAR  AGASSIZ 

(MAP  LXIV) 

Agassiz,  1854,  Amer.  J.  Sci.  and  Arts,  353  (Zygonectes). 

J.  &  G.,  341  (Zygonectes);  M.  V.,  86  (Zygonectes);  J.  &  E.,  I,  658;  N.,  42  (Zygonectes); 
J.,  52  (Zygonectes);   F.,  72   (Zygonectes);    F.  F.,  I.  6,  72   (Zygonectes);    L.,  21. 

Length,  2 1/2  inches;  body  rather  short  and  deep,  compressed,  caudal 
peduncle  short;  depth  3.5  to  4.3;  greatest  width  about  %  of  greatest 
depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.5  to  1.9  in  its  length.  Color  (females)  light 
olive,  with  9  or  10  wavy  longitudinal  lines  of  brown  traversing  each  side 
along  the  lower  edges  of  the  rows  of  scales;  no  distinct*  transverse  bars; 
dorsal  and  anal  with  a  few  faint  dusky  spots;  caudal  plain;  adult  males  and 
females  with  a  triangular  bluish  blotch  below  eye,  and  a  smaller  blotch  above 
and  in  front  of  it,  the  two  blotches  more  or  less  confluent  with  similar  color 
in  the  eye  itself.  Males  with  irregular  longitudinal  rows  of  reddish  brown 

*  Females  1^£  inches  long  taken  in  Wolf  Lake  South  Chicago,  in  August,  1903,  had  faint 
vertical  bars.  These  disappeared  at  times  and  on  one  occasion  when  apparent  in  direct  side 
view  disappeared  at  other  angles.  These  females  were  in  all  other  respects  typical. 


FUNDULUS — KILLIFISHES  213 

dots  on  sides,  not  connected  in  wavy  lines  as  in  females,  and  with  about  10 
narrow  transverse  bars  of  dusky  olive;  conspicuous  reddish  brown  spots  on 
proximal  half  of  caudal  and  fainter  ones  on  dorsal  and  anal.  Head  3.5  to  4.3, 
broad  and  flat  above;  width  of  head  1.5  to  1.7  in  its  length;  interorbital  space 
1.9  to  2.3  (usually  about  2);  eye  2.8  to  3.4;  nose  2.8  to  3.7;  mouth  small, 
maxillary  2.8  to  3.3,  mandible  less  than  diameter  of  eye;  lower  jaw  scarcely 
projecting;  teeth  pointed,  those  on  lower  jaw  rather  short  and  weak.  Dorsal 
inserted  behind  ventrals,  its  rays  7;  anal  rays  9  or  10,  the  fin  much  longer  in 
males  than  in  females;  ventrals  to  vent;  pectorals  nearly  to  ventrals,  1.5  to 
1.8  in  head.  Scales  34  to  36;  transverse  series  11;  no  lateral  line;  cheeks  and 
opercles  covered  with  large  scales. 

This  little  killifish  although  occurring  in  all  parts  of  the 
state,  is  peculiarly  distributed.  Nearly  all  our  collections  of  it 
have  been  made  along  the  course  of  the  larger  rivers — not  from 
the  streams  themselves,  however,  but  rather  from  the  weedy 
lakes  and  ponds  of  the  river  bottoms  and  the  upland  lakes  of 
northeastern  Illinois.  Consistently  with  this  statement,  the 
frequency  coefficient  of  this  species  is  2.17  for  lakes  and  sloughs, 
and  but  .22  for  creeks,  and  .67  for  the  larger  rivers.  None  of 
our  83  collections  has  been  taken  in  rivers  of  the  second  class. 

The7  known  general  distribution  of  the  species  is  rather 
limited,  extending  from  lakes  and  sluggish  streams  of  northern 
Ohio  westward  to  Missouri  and  southward  to  the  Pearl  and 
Big  Black  rivers  in  Mississippi. 

This  minnow  swims  habitually  at  the  surface  with  the  head 
and  back  showing,  in  which  position  it  may  be  easily  identified 
by  a  bright  silvery  spot  on  the  top  of  the  head.  About 
half  the  food  of  the  specimens  studied  by  us  consisted  of  insects, 
fully  half  of  these  land  insects  which  had  fallen  into  the  water. 
Mollusks  and  crustaceans,  with  a  small  amount  of  the  more 
delicate  aquatic  vegetation,  were  the  other  objects  of  the  food. 

Ripe  fishes  of  both  sexes  were  obtained  by  us  at  Havana 
on  the  29th  of  May,  1896. 

FUNDULUS  NOTATUS   (RAFINESQUE) 

TOP-MINNOW 
(MAP  LXV) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  86  (Semotilus). 

G.,  VI,  314  and  315  (Haplochilus  pulchellus  and  aureus);   J.  &  G..  339   (Zygonectes) ; 

M.  V.,  86  (Zygonectes);  J.  &  E.,  I,  659;  N.,  42  (Zygonectes);  J.,  52  (Zygonectes); 

F.,  72   (Zygonectes);   F.  F.f  I.  6,  71   (Zygonectes);   L.,  22. 

Length  2^  to  3  inches;  body  moderately  elongate,  flattened  above, 
little  compressed  anteriorly;  depth  in  length  4.4  to  5.3;  greatest  width  more 
than  24  greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.5  to  2.1  in  its  length.  Color 
(females)  brownish  olive  with  a  purplish  black  lateral  band  continued  for- 


214  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

ward  across  cheek  and  opercle  and  through  eye  to  end  of  snout;  belly  pinkish 
white;  median  fins  more  or  less  specked  with  dusky,  anal  faintly  so  and  only 
near  base;  males  with  sides  crossed  by  16  or  17  rather  obscure  bars  of  dusky, 
and  with  edges  of  lateral  band  somewhat  serrate;  anal  with  two  or  three  rows 
of  prominent  dark  specks.  Head  much  depressed  and  rather  elongate,  3.5  to 
3.9  in  length;  width  of  head  1.6  to  2;  interorbital  space  2.2  to  2.5;  eye  3.3  to 
3.9;  nose  2.8  to  3.4,  noticeably  longer  than  eye;  maxillary  2.8  to  3.3  in  head, 
mandible  greater  than  eye;  jaws  subequal,  the  lower  scarcely  so  long  as 
upper;  "teeth  in  a  broad  band,  the  outer  series  considerably  enlarged, 
canine-like"  (J.  &  E.).  Dorsal  inserted  behind  ventrals,  its  rays  9;  anal  rays 
11,  the  fin  noticeably  longer  in  males  (longer  than  head)  than  in  females 
(about  V$  head);  ventrals  to  vent;  pectorals  almost  or  quite  to  ventrals,  1.4 
to  1.9  in  head.  Scales  33  to  34;  transverse  series  11;  cheeks  and  opercles 
and  top  of  head  covered  with  large  scales. 

This  is  much  the  most  abundant  Illinois  species  of  its 
family,  and  is  the  one  to  which  the  name  of  top-minnow  has 
been  most  generally  attached.  It  occurs  in  great  abundance 
throughout  the  state  in  waters  of  all  descriptions,  most  fre- 
quently, however,  in  the  smaller  streams  and  headwaters  of 
southern  and  eastern  Illinois.  Its  condensation  southward  is 
illustrated  by  our  frequency  coefficients  for  the  three  sections 
of  the  state — 2.13  for  southern  Illinois  and  .42  and  .44  for 
central  and  northern  Illinois  respectively.  By  far  the  greater 
part  of  our  collections  have  been  taken  from  the  basins  of  the 
Kaskaskia  and  the  Wabash,  and  the  ponds  and  creeks  of  the 
extreme  southern  part  of  the  state. 

Outside  Illinois  it  occurs  from  Michigan,  and  Wisconsin 
southward  throughout  the  entire  lower  Mississippi  Valley  to 
Louisiana  and  the  rivers  of  Texas.  It  is  reported  by  collectors 
to  be  most  abundant  in  ponds,  creeks,  and  canals,  and  along  the 
margins  of  sluggish  streams.  It  is  a  surface  swimmer,  as  its 
common  name  implies,  and,  like  Fundulus  dispar,  it  is  easily 
distinguished  in  the  water  by  a  silvery  occipital  spot. 

Nearly  the  whole  food  of  the  species  consists  of  insects,  as 
illustrated  by  our  examination  of  17  specimens  taken  from  vari- 
ous places  in  central  and  southern  Illinois.  The  10  per  cent,  of 
vegetation  eaten  by  these  fishes  was  almost  wholly  filamentous 
algae,  taken  in  such  quantities  by  some  as  to  make  it  certain  that 
their  presence  in  the  food  was  not  a  matter  of  accident.  In  one 
fish,  for  example,  the  entire  intestine  was  crammed  with  these 
algae,  and  in  three  others  they  made  more  than  half  the  food. 
Insects  were  the  major  part  of  the  remainder,  although  Ento- 
mostraca  and  amphipod  Crustacea  (Crangonyx)  were  likewise 
common. 


GAMBUSIA  215 

Dr.  Eigenmann  found  ripe  females  in  Turkey  creek, 
Indiana  June  27 ;  and  we  have  taken  specimens  greatly  distended 
with  eggs  between  the  16th  and  the  27th  of  the  same  month. 

GENUS  GAMBUSIA  POEY 

Body  moderately  elongate,  becoming  deep  in  the  adult  female;  head 
flat  above;  mouth  moderate;  lower  jaw  projecting;  both  jaws  with  bands 
of  pointed  teeth;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  rather  short  and  small,  the  anal  more 
or  less  in  advance  of  the  dorsal  and  in  the  male  much  advanced  and  modified 
into  a  long  intromittent  organ;  scales  as  in  Fundulus. 


GAMBUSIA  AFFINIS    (BAIRD  &  GIRAED) 

VIVIPAROUS    TOP-MINNOW 

(MAP  LXVI-) 

Baird  and  Girard,  1853,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  390   (Heterandria). 

G.,  VI,  334,  335,   336    (holbrooki,   humilis,  and  affinis);    J.   &  G.,   345,   346    (patruelis, 

humilis,    affinis),    340,    341,    892    (Zygonectes    atrilatus,    brachypterus,    inurus); 

M.    V.,    87    (patruelis);    J.    &    E.,    I,    680;    J.,    52    (Zygonectes    menalops):    F.,    71 

(patruelis);   L,.,  22. 

Length  l}/2  to  2  inches;  body  robust  and  not  much  elongate,  consider- 
ably compressed;  depth  3.7  to  4.3  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body  about 
%  of  its  depth;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  2.1  to  2.4  in  its  length.  Color 
" light  olive,  each  scale  edged  with  darker;  a  very  narrow  dark  streak*  along 
sides;  top  of  head  dusky;  a  more  or  less  distinct  triangular  bluish-black  bar 
below  eye;  sides  and  belly  anteriorly  dusky  with  dark  dots;  a  black  blotch 
on  each  side  of  belly,  caused  by  the  black  internal  organs  showing  through 
the  skin;  young  specimens  often  uniformly  yellowish;  fins  dusky;  the  caudal 
usually  with  cross  series  of  dots".  Head  short,  broad,  and  flat  above,  3.7  to 
4  in  length;  width  of  head  1.4  to  1.6  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  2  to  2.5 
in  head;  eye  2.6  to  3.2;  nose  2.8  to  3.6;  maxillary  2.8  to  3.4;  mandible  equal 
to  eye;  lower  jaw  slightly  longer  than  upper;  teeth  in  broad  villiform  bands. 

*  Not  evident  in  our  preserved  material. — R.  E.  R. 


216  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Dorsal  rays  6  or  7,  the  fin  inserted  behind  ventrals;  anal  rays  8  (females)  or 
6  (males) ;  anal  fin  of  males  inserted  nearer  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal  (vice 
versa  in  females),  its  anterior  rays  modified  into  a  long,  blade-like  intromit- 
tent  organ;  ventrals  reaching  to  vent;  pectorals  past  front  of  ventrals,  1.2 
in  head.  Scales  28  to  30;  transverse  series  8  or  9;  top  and  sides  o  head 
covered  with  large  scales. 

G.  affinis  lives  along  the  southern  coasts,  in  brackish  as  well 
as  in  fresh  water,  from  the  Potomac  and  Delaware  to  the  St. 
Johns  and  the  Escambia  rivers  in  Florida,  and  down  the  Missis- 
sippi to  New  Orleans  and  thence  to  the  rivers  of  Texas  and 
Mexico. 

Specimens  examined  by  Dr.  H.  M.  Smith  were  found  to  have 
fed  on  algae,  diatoms,  and  fragments  of  mosquitoes. 

Sexual  dimorphism  is  strongly  manifested  in  this  species, 
the  males  being  very  small  in  comparison  with  the  females  and 
furnished  with  a  long  intromittent  organ,  the  modified  first  ray 
of  the  anal  fin.  The  males  are  much  fewer  than  the  females, 
68  out  of  69  specimens  counted  by  Dr.  Smith  having  been 
females.  The  species  is  viviparous,  and  a  specimen  taken  by 
us  in  Running  Lake,  Union  county,  July  15,  1883,  contained 
embryos  with  prominent  eye-spots.  Dr.  Smith  found  females 
with  large  eggs  July  1  in  Maryland,  and  Aug.  11  obtained  others 
containing  young  apparently  ready  for  extrusion.  Dr.  Ever- 
mann  found  specimens  containing  well-developed  embryos  at 
San  Antonio,  Texas,  in  November  and  December,  and  observa- 
tions by  A.  A.  Duty,  reported  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Ryder,  indicate  that 
more  than  one  brood  may  be  produced  in  a  season. 

This  little  top-minnow,"  fairly  common  in  extreme  southern 
Illinois,  has  been  taken  by  us  outside  that  region  only  from 
Quincy,  Meredosia,  and  Pekin.  Our  18  collections  are  too  few 
to  give  us  data  of  local  distribution,  but  when  treated  with  refer- 
ence to  the  joint  occurrence  of  this  species  with  others  more 
abundant  and  more  widely  scattered  through  the  state,  they 
disclose  an  interesting  situation,  illustrating  the  methods  by 
which  closely  related  species  occupying  the  same  territory  come 
to  evade  an  injurious  competition  with  each  other.  Bringing 
into  comparison  the  collection  records  for  the  four  species  of 
this  family,  and  taking  note  of  the  relative  frequency  with 
which  the  same  species  have  been  taken  together  in  the  same 
collection,  we  find  that  Gambusia  affinis  occurs  with  our  most 
abundant  and  most  widely  distributed  top-minnow  (Fundulus 
notatus}  with  nearly  three  times  the  relative  frequency  of  the 
joint  occurrence  of  F.  notatus  and  F.  dispar,  and  that  it  occurs 


AMBLYOPSID^: THE   BLINDFISHES 


217 


jointly  with  the  less  abundant  species,  F.  dispar,  with  one  and 
a  third  times  that  frequency — facts  which  are  to  be  understood 
only  when  the  general  distribution  of  all  these  species  is  taken 
into  account.  G.  affinis  finds  in  southern  Illinois  the  northern 
limit  of  its  range,  its  occurrences  beyond  that  boundary  being 
evidently  merely  accidental.  In  its  general  distribution  it  goes 
southeast  to  Florida  and  southwest  to  Mexico,  while  the  three 
other  species  are  so  distributed  that  Illinois  is  in  the  midst  of 
the  area  occupied  by  them.  These  general  occupants 'of  our 
area  have  come  to  avoid  each  other  locally  in  great  measure,  as 
shown  by  their  relatively  small  coefficients  of  association — an 
adjustment  forced  upon  them  by  the  competitive  relations  in 
which  they  otherwise  would  live — while  G.  affinis,  entering  the 
territory  of  these  three  species  only  at  its  southern  border,  has 
not  become  ecologically  adjusted  to  them,  and  is  consequently 
to  be  found  in  their  favorite  haunts  more  frequently  than  they 
are  in  those  of  each  other.  These  various  relations  may  be 
more  clearly  shown  by  the  following  table. 

TABLE  OF  ASSOCIATE  RELATIONS  OF  FUNDULUS  DISPAR, 
F.  NOTATUS,  AND  GAMBUSIA  AFFINS 


Species 

Collections 

Joint  occur- 
rences 

Frequency 
coefficients 

F.  dispar  
F.  notatus  

83 
210 

17 

1.47 

F.  dispar  
G.  affinis  

83 

18 

2 

2.01 

F.  notatus  
G.  affinis  

2iO 

18 

11 

4.37 

FAMILY  AMBLYOPSID^E 

THE   BLIXDFISHES 

Body  moderately  elongate,  compressed  behind;  head  long  and  depressed; 
body  with  small  cycloid  scales,  irregularly  placed,  and  more  or  less  imbedded, 
so  that  the  body  appears  naked;  head  naked,  the  surface  sometimes  crossed 
by  papillary  ridges;  lateral  line  wanting;  skeleton  osseous;  anterior  vertebrae 
simple;  ventral  fins  small  or  wanting,  abdominal;  no  spines  in  fins;  dorsal 
nearly  opposite  anal;  caudal  truncate  or  rotinded;  no  mesocoracoid;  gill- 

— 23  F 


218  FISIIKS    OF    ILLINOIS 

membranes  more  or  less  completely  joined  to  isthmus;  branchiostegals  about 
6;  pseudobranchise  concealed;  gill-rakers  very  short;  eyes  in  typical  genera 
very  rudimentary  and  hidden  under  the  skin,  in  such  forms  the  body  being 
translucent  and  colorless;  mouth  rather  large;  lower  jaw  projecting;  pre- 
maxillaries  scarcely  protractile,  forming  entire  margin  of  upper  jaw;  jaws 
and  palatines  with  bands  of  slender  villiform  teeth;  stomach  csecal,  with  one 
or  two  pyloric  appendages;  air-bladder  present;  ovary  single;  some  (and 
probably  all)  of  the  species  ovo viviparous;  vent  jugular. 

Fishes  of  small  size,  living  in  or  about  subterranean  streams, 
caves,  and  swamps  of  the  southern  United  States.  Four  genera 
and  six  species  known,  the  majority  being  blind,  with  pale, 
almost  pigmentless,  bodies,  and  with  the  eyes  covered  with  thick 
skin,  inhabiting  the  cave  region  of  southern  Indiana,  Kentucky, 
and  Missouri.  The  single  species  found  in  Illinois  retains  the 
use  of  its  eyes,  and  has  the  color  of  ordinary  fishes.  The  group 
Amblyopsidce  is  a  very  ancient  one,  as  indicated  by  many  points 
in  their  anatomy.  The  forward  position  of  the  vent,  though 
not  peculiar  to  these  fishes,  is  found  in  only  one  other  fresh- 
water family  (Aphredoderidce*) ,  likewise  a  relict  of  a  family  all 
but  extinct. 


GENUS  CHOLOGASTER  AGASSIZ 

Eyes  well  developed;  ventral  fins  wanting;  body  not  translucent,  the 
skin  having  more  or  less  pigment,  and  the  color  being  much  as  in  ordinary 
fishes;  pyloric  caeca  4;  character  otherwise  those  of  the  family.  Swamps  of 
the  southern  United  States;  a  single  species  found  in  Illinois,  at  the  mouths 
of  caves  in  Union  and  Pope  counties. 


CHOLOGASTER  PAPILLIFERUS  FOEBES 

SPRING    CAVE-FISH 

(PL.,  P.  220) 

Forbes,  Amer.  Nat.,  1882,  2. 

J.  &  G.,  325,  890  (papillifer);  M.  V.,  83;  J.  &  E.,  I,  704;    P.,  72;   L.,  22. 

Length  2.4  inches;  elongate,  little  compressed,  caudal  peduncle  deep; 
head  with  rows  of  tactile  papillae,  as  in  the  true  blindfishes  (Amblyopsis  and 
Typhlichthys);  depth  5  to  6;  greatest  width  %  of  depth;  depth  caudal  pe- 
duncle 2  in  its  length.  Color  dark  brown  above,  paler  below;  sides  with  3 
narrow  longitudinal  stripes,  the  upper  and  lower  ones  black,  and  the  middle 
one  of  the  ground  color  or  paler  (not  black,  as  in  C.  cornutus) ;  caudal  fin  dark 
brown,  with  several  vertical  rows  of  white  specks  running  across  the  rays; 
anterior  portion  of  dorsal  similar  in  color  but  paler.  Head  short,  broad,  and 
exceedingly  depressed,  4  in  length;  width  of  head  1.5  in  its  length;  interorbital 


CHOLOGASTER  219 

space  flat,  3.4  in  head;  eyes  2.8  in  head,  mostly  on  its  upper  surface;  nose 
broadly  rounded,  3.5;  mouth  rather  large,  maxillary  not  reaching  eye;  lower 
jaw  projecting;  sides  and  top  of  head  with  numerous  mostly  short  and  broken 
and  chiefly  single  rows  of  small  sensory  papillae;  a  prominent  double  row  on 
outside  of  each  lower  jaw.  sunk  in  a  groove  extending  from  back  to  front  of 
mandible,  and  within  this  a  parallel  ii  regular  row  of  smaller  papillae  on  the 
lower  surface  of  the  jaw;  especially  conspicuous  papillae  about  the  nostrils; 
the  latter  conspicuous,  tubular,  projecting  forward,  with  expanded  openings. 
Dorsal  and  anal  fins  thick  and  fleshy,  their  height  about  equal  to  their  length ; 
developed  dorsal  rays  6,  the  fin  inserted  behind  the  middle  of  the  body  and 
slightly  in  front  of  the  anal;  developed  anal  rays  5;  caudal  broadly  rounded; 
ventrals  wanting;  pectorals  1.7  in  head.  Scales  very  small,  cycloid,  covered 
with  thick  skin. 

Known  at  present  only  from  a  cave  spring  in  Union  county 
coming  from  the  foot  of  a  Mississippi  River  bluff,  and  from  a 
cave  on  the  Ohio  River  near  Golconda,  in  Pope  county.  This 
species  was  originally  described  from  material  sent  the  senior 
author  in  1879  and  again  in  1881  by  F.  S.  Earle,  of  Cobden,  111., 
and  specimens  have  since  been  repeatedly  taken  from  the  Union 
county  spring  by  various  assistants  of  the  State  Laboratory. 
The  occurrence  of  the  species  in  Pope  county  was  reported  to 
me  by  Dr.  Meek  in  1908. 

Especial  interest  attaches  to  this  little  fish  as  intermediate 
between  the  true  blindfishes  of  the  caves  (Amblyopsis  and 
Typhlichthyus)  and  earlier  described  species  of  Chologaster. 
The  sensory  structures  of  C.  papilliferus  correspond  in  character 
to  its  situation  as  a  partially  subterranean  species.  Studies 
recently  made  by  Dr.  Eigenmann  show  that  the  optic  nerve 
and  all  of  the  important  elements  of  the  eye  are  present,  but 
that  the  choroid  is  very  thin  and  its  pigment  scanty,  and  that 
the  retina  is  much  degenerated. 

The  food  and  feeding  habits  of  this  species  have  not  been 
especially  studied,  although  it  is  known  to  be  carnivorous.  Dr. 
Shufeldt,  quoting  a  note  from  Eigenmann,  says  that  it  detects 
its  prey  by  its  cutaneous  sense-organs  and  not  by  its  eyes, 
illustrating  this  statement  by  Eigenmann's  observation  of  the 
behavior  of  a  fish  in  capturing,  by  an  instantaneous  movement, 
a  Gammarus  which  was  approaching  it  from  behind  and  below, 
where  it  could  not  have  been  seen  by  its  captor.  This  does  not, 
however,  preclude  the  usefulness  under  other  conditions  of  such 
eyesight  as  it  has  retained,  especially  when  the  fish  is  lurking 
under  stones  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  outlet  of  its  subterra- 
nean resort. 


220  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 


OBDER  ACANTHOPTERI 

THE    SPINY-RAYED    FISHES 

Skeleton  bony;  the  anterior  vertebrae  unmodified  and  without  Weberian 
ossicles;  ventral  fins  more  or  less  anterior  (thoracic)  in  nearly  all  forms, 
being  abdominal  in  a  few  of  the  more  archaic  families;  ventrals  typically  with 
1  spine  and  5  soft  rays;  anterior  rays  of  dorsal  and  anal  typically  simple  (un- 
segmented)  and  spinous;  shoulder  girdle  attached  to  the  skull  by  a  post- 
temporal;  no  mesocoracoid,  so  far  as  known;  hypercoracoid  usually  perforate; 
opercular  apparatus  complete;  border  of  mouth  formed  by  the  premaxillaries 
alone,  which  are  usually  dentigerous;  maxillary  always  present  and  toothless, 
normally  distinct  from  the  premaxillary;  air-bladder  typically  without  duct 
in  adult;  scales  usually,  though  not  always,  ctenoid. 

To  this  group  belong  the  great  majority  of  existing  marine 
fishes,  as  well  as  numerous  families  more  or  less  peculiar  to  fresh 
water.  At  least  5  more  or  less  distinct  suborders  of  Acanthop- 
teri  are  represented  in  the  waters  of  Illinois,  by  far  the  greater 
number  of  the  species  belonging  to  the  perch-like  or  bass-like 
families  of  the  group  Percoidei. 

KEY  TO  FAMILIES  OF  ACANTHOPTERI  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Ventral  fins  abdominal,  i.  e.,  inserted  nearer  first  (soft)  rays  of  anal  than  to 

the  angle  under  throat  formed  by  the  union  of  the  free  gill-membranes 
(which  definition  does  not  include  some  members  of  the  families  Gasteros- 
teidw  and  Percopsidce  found  outside  of  Illinois). 

b.  Dorsal  fin  with  a  single  spine  or  preceded  by  4  or  more  free  spines. 
Suborder  Hemibranohii. 

c.  No  adipose  fin;  dorsal  fin  preceded  by  4  or  more  free  spines.  .  Gasterosteidae. 
Suborder  Salmopercas. 

cc.    An  adipose  fin;   dorsal,  anal,  and  ventral  fins  each  with  a  weak  and  rather 

indistinct   spine    Percopsidae. 

Suborder  Percesoces. 

bb.     Dorsal  fin  preceded  by  a  finlet  of  3  to  8  slender  spines Atherinidae. 

aa.     Ventral  fins  thoracic,  i.  e.,  inserted  nearer  to  angle  of  gill -membranes  than 
to    the   first   anal    spine,    except   in    the    deep-bodied    genera    CentrachidCB 
(which   have   dorsal  spines   6  to   13   and   anal   spines   3   to   9   and  ventrals 
nearer  to  throat  than  to  first  soft  ray  of  anal). 
Group  Percoidei. 

d.  Ventral  rays  usually  I,  7  (I,  6  or  7),  never  I.  5;  vent  jugular.  .Aphredoderidae. 
dd.     Ventral  rays  I,  3  to  I,  5,  typically  I,  5. 

e.  Chin  without  barbel. 

f.  Body  scaled. 


CAVE-FISH,  Chologaster  papillifenis  Forbes 


BROOK  STICKLEBACK,  Eiicalia  inconstant  (Kirtland) 


BROOK  S1LVERSIDE,  Labidesthes  sicculus  (Cope) 


GASTEROSTEID^i] — THE    STICKLEBACKS  221 , 

g.     Anal  spines  3  to  10. 

h.    Lateral   line   wanting Elassomidae. 

hh.    Lateral  line  present. 

i.  Dorsal  fins  confluent,  the  spinous  portion  low  or  high;  in  forms  with  the 
notch  deep,  approaching  separation,  the  highest  dorsal  spine  is  but  little 

more  than  %  height  of  the  highest  ray Centra  rchidae. 

ii.  Dorsal  fins  either  (1)  separate  and  with  soft  and  spinous  portions  about 
equally  high,  or  (2)  barely  confluent,  with  the  notch  very  deep  and  with 
the  highest  dorsal  spine  as  high  or  higher  than  the  highest  soft  ray  (which 

definition  does  not  include  marine  genera) Serranidae. 

gg.     Anal  spines  1  or  2,  never  more  than  2. 

h.     Lateral  line  not  extending  on  rays  of  caudal  fin ' Percidae. 

hh.     Lateral  line  extending  on  rays  of  caudal  fin Sciaenidae. 

Suborder  Loricati. 

ff.     Body  naked,  or  variously  armed  with  prickles  or  bony  plates Cottidae. 


FAMILY  GASTEROSTEID^! 

THE    STICKLEBACKS 

Body  more  or  less  fusiform,  somewhat  compressed,  tapering  behind  to  a 
slender  caudal  peduncle;  skin  naked  or  with  vertically  oblong  bony  plates;  no 
true  scales;  skeleton  osseous;  four  anterior  vertebrae  more  or  less  enlarged; 
middle  and  sides  of  belly  shielded  by  the  pubic  bones;  ventral  fins  abdominal 
or  subabdominal,  consisting  of  a  stout  spine  and  one  or  two  rudimentary  rays; 
dorsal  fin  preceded  by  2  or  more  free  spines;  caudal  lunate;  no  mesocoracoid; 
gill-membranes  broadly  joined,  free  from  isthmus  or  not  free;  branchiostegals 
3;  gill-rakers  moderate  or  rather  long;  mouth-cleft  oblique;  premaxillaries 
protractile;  maxillary  bent  at  r  ght  angles  and  overlapping  premaxillary  at 
corner  of  mouth;  teeth  sharp,  in  a  narrow  band  on  each  jaw;  no  teeth  on 
vomer  or  palatines;  pyloric  caeca  present,  few  in  number;  air-bladder  simple. 

These  are  small  fishes,  inhabiting  fresh  waters  and  arms  of 
the  sea  in  northern  Europe  and  America.  Genera  5,  species 
about  12;  two  species,  representing  two  genera,  found  in  Illinois. 

The  fresh-water  sticklebacks  are  very  similar  in  their  habits. 
All  are  active,  pugnacious,  and  greedy,  and,  in  spite  of  their 
small  size,  they  are  known  to  be  very  destructive  to  the  fry  of 
other  fishes.  In  certain  localities  along  the  Atlantic  coast  they 
occur  so  abundantly  as  to  be  a  nuisance  to  the  fishermen,  clog- 
ging the  nets  used  for  smelt.  Certain  European  species  will 
bear  with  impunity  transplantation  from  fresh  water  into  salt 
water,  and  vice  versa. 

Most  or  all  of  the  sticklebacks  build  nests,  constructing 
them  out  of  sticks  which  they  fasten  together  by  silk-like  threads 
formed  from  the  secretion  of  a  gland,  found  only  in  the  males. 
The  substance*  secreted  by  this  gland,  which  is  in  reality  the 

*  See  Mobius  Arch.  f.  Mikr.  Anat.   Vol.  25   p.  554. 


222  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

kidney,  is  much  like  the  mucin  secreted  by  the  vineyard  snail, 
Helix  pomatia.  The  nest  is  built,  by  the  exertions  of  the  male 
alone,  among  the  stems  of  aquatic  plants  where  there  is  some 
current.*  It  has  two  openings,  which  are  "as  smooth  and 
symmetrical  as  the  hole  leading  into  a  wren's  nest,  and  not 
unlike  it."  The  male  induces  the  female  to  enter  the  nest  and 
lay  her  eggs,  after  which  he  enters  and  deposits  his  milt.  The 
holes  in  the  nest  are  in  the  direction  of  the  current,  so  that  a 
stream  of  water  passes  through  it  continually.  The  pugnacious 
male  watches  the  nest  and  wards  off  all  intruders. 

KEY  TO  XHE  GENERA  OF  GASTEROSTEID^E  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.     Pubic  bones  firmly  united,  forming  a  lanceolate  plate  with  a  single  strong 
median  keel;    tail  without  keel,  deeper  than  broad;    dorsal  spines  4   or  5, 

the  spines  in  a  right  line,  non-divergent Eucalia. 

aa.  Pubic  bones  weak  and  feebly  united  to  form  an  elongate  plate  with  a 
median  longitudinal  groove,  on  each  side  of  which  is  a  raised  edge;  tail 
broader  than  deep,  with  lateral  bony  keel;  dorsal  spines  8  to  11,  divergent 
from  right  to  left  at  various  angles Pygosteus. 

GENUS  EUCALIA  JORDAN 

FIVE-SPINED    STICKLEBACKS 

Sticklebacks  of  typical  form,  feebly  armed,  the  skin  not  mailed,  and  the 
dorsal  spines  few  (not  more  than  5)  and  non-divergent;  tail  deeper  than 
broad,  without  keel;  pubic  bones  firmly  united,  forming  a  lanceolate  plate 
with  a  single  strong  median  carina.  Fresh  waters  of  North  America;  one 
species  known. 

EUCALIA  INCONSTANS   (KIRTLAND) 

BROOK    STICKLEBACK 
(PL.,  P.  220) 

Kirtland,  1841,  Bost.  Journ.  Nat.  Hist.,  Ill,  273   (Gasterosteus). 

J.   &   G.,    394    (Gasterosteus);    M.   V.,    97;    J.    &    E.,   I,    744;    N.,    42    (inconstans   and 
pygmaea);  J.,  51;  F.(  70  (Gasterosteus);   F.  F.,  I.  6,  68;   L.,  22. 

I  ength  1Yi  inches;  body  rather  deep  and  moderately  compressed;  caudal 
peduncle  rather  stout  and  not  keeled;  depth  3.8  to  4.4;  greatest  width  about 
%  of  greatest  depth;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  1.8  to  2.9  in  its  length.  Color 
(females  and  young)  olivaceous,  with  faint  lighter  mottlings  and  with  many 
fine  dots  of  black;  upper  part  of  sides  and  caudal  peduncle  with  about  10 
dark  cross-bar-like  bands  more  or  less  confluent  in  ring-like  pattern;  lower 

*  For  full  description  of  nest-building  of  Gnstei-osteus  cataphraclus  see  J.  K.  Lord  as  quoted 
by  Dr.  Jordan  in  "Guide  to  the  Study  of  Fishes, "  Vol.  IT.  p.  2?0. 


EUCALIA — FIVE-SPIXED   STICKLEBACKS  223 

'parts  silvery;  upper  part  of  cheek  and  opercle  crossed  by  a  splash  of  bright 
green;  median  fins  more  or  less  dusky;  spring  males  said  to  be  jet-black, 
tinged  with  red  anteriorly.  Head  3.2  to  3.8;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.3  in  its 
length;  interorbital  space  4.6  to  5.7;  eye  3.2  to  3.4;  nose  4  to  5;  mouth  small 
and  very  oblique,  the  maxillary  considerably  short  of  front  of  orbit,  4  to  4.8 
in  head.  Dorsal  V  (or  VI),  9-10,  the  spines  in  a  right  line,  not  divergent; 
caudal  subtruncate  (scarcely  lunate  in  our  specimens);  anal  rather  large,  I, 
9  or  10,  the  spine  shorter  than  the  anterior  rays;  ventrals  with  a  short  but 
strong  and  sharp  spine  with  minute  serratures.  its  length  3,5  to  4  in  head; 
pectorals  1.7  to  2  in  head;  post-pectoral  plate  present;  thoracic  processes 
slender  and  covered  with  skin,  widely  separated;  pubic  bones  firmly  united, 
forming  a  lanceolate,  keeled  process  which  extends  backward  from  between 
ventrals.  Skin  smooth,  destitute  of  dermal  plates. 

This  little  stickleback,  one  of  the  hardiest,  most  combative, 
and  most  individual  of  our  smaller  fishes,  has  been  confined,  in 
our  collections,  to  the  lakes  of  northeastern  Illinois,  the  Calumet 
River  at  South  Chicago,  and  clear  brooks  in  LaSalle  county. 
It  is  a  northern  species,  ranging  through  the  Dominion  of 
Canada  from  New  Brunswick  to  Calgary  on  the  branches  of  the 
Saskatchewan,  and  thence  through  the  St.  Lawrence,  Lake 
Champlain,  and  the  Great  Lakes  from  Ontario  to  Superior,  to 
central  Ohio  and  the  basin  of  the  Missouri  as  far  south  as  Kansas. 
It  is  confined  to  fresh  waters,  and  prefers  clear  cool  brooks. 
This  species  builds  nests,  like  the  others  of  its  family.  In  the 
aquarium  it  is  quarrelsome,  and  destructive  even  to  fishes  of 
larger  size. 

Its  mouth  is  small,  its  gill-rakers  are  long  and  slender,  about 
half  the  length  of  the  corresponding  filaments,  and  its  pharyngeal 
apparatus  is  insignificant.  The  intestine  is  short  and  simple, 
not  longer  than  the  head  and  body  together.  Notwithstanding 
this  equipment  for  a  carnivorous  life,  five  specimens  examined 
by  us  were  found  to  have  fed  on  plants  and  animals  in  equal 
quantities — the  former  wholly  filamentous  algae,  which  had  been 
taken  by  four  of  the  specimens  in  quantities  to  make  it  certain 
that  they  were  purposely  eaten.  The  animal  food  was  about 
equally  insects  and  crustaceans,  the  latter  chiefly  Entomostraca 
and  the  former  largely  Chironomus  larvse.  These  and  specimens 
of  Cypris  taken  by  one  of  these  fishes  are  evidence  that  it  feeds, 
in  part  at  least,  upon  the  bottom. 


224:  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

GENUS  PYGOSTEUS   BEEVOOET 

NINE-SPINED    STICKLEBACKS 

Dorsal  spine  9  to  11,  divergent  from  right  to  left  at  various  angles;  tail 
broader  than  deep,  with  a  lateral  bony  keel;  pubic  bones  weak  and  feebly 
united,  forming  an  elongate  plate  with  a  median  longitudinal  groove,  on  each 
side  of  which  is  a  raised  edge*;  characters  otherwise  as  in  Eucalia.  Species 
two,  in  the  waters  of  northern  regions,  one  of  them  native  in  China;  a  single 
species,  cosmopolitan  in  distribution,  found  in  the  waters  of  Illinois. 

PYGOSTEUS  PUNGITIUS 

NINE-SPINED    STICKLEBACK 

Linnaeus,  1758,  Syst.  Nat.,  Ed.  X,  296  (Gasterosteus). 

G.,  I,  6  (Gasterosteus);   J.  &  G.,  393  (Gasterosteus);   M.  V.,  97;  J.  &  E.,  I,  745;   N., 
42  (nebulosus);  J.,  51  (occidentalis  var.  nebulosus);   F.  F.,  I.  6,  69. 

Length  3  inches;  body  quite  slender,  considerably  compressed,  the 
caudal  peduncle  very  long,  slender  and  tapering,  broader  than  deep,  and 
with  lateral  bony  keel;  depth  5.1  to  5.6;  greatest  width  about  %  of  greatest 
depth;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  4.3  to  6.2  in  its  length.  "Color  olivaceous 
above,  profusely  punctulate,  irregularly  barred  with  darker;  silvery  below" 
(J.  &  E.).  He.ad  3.3  to  3  7;  width  2.4  to  3;  interorbital  space  4.5  to  5.1  in 
head;  eye  3;  nose  3.3  to  3.8;  mouth  somewhat  less  oblique  than  in  the  last 
species,  the  maxillary  nearly  to  orbit,  3.3  to  4.4  in  head.  Dorsal  IX  (or  X), 
9  or  10,  the  spines  promiscuously  divergent  to  right  and  left  at  various  angles ; 
caudal  scarcely  lunate;  anal  rather  low,  the  spine  nearly  as  long  as  anterior 
rays;  ventrals  with  a  long  finely  serrated  spine,  which  is  less  than  3  in  head; 
pectorals  1.7  to  1.9  in  head;  post-pectoral  plate  well  developed;  thoracic 
processes  prominent,  forming  a  U-shaped  figure;  pubic  bones  thin  and  feebly 
united,  lanceolate,  with  a  median  groove  between  two  raised  edges.  Skin 
naked  except  for  small  bony  plates  along  bases  of  dorsal  and  anal  and  on 
caudal  keel. 

This  little  species  has  been  taken  by  us  but  once,  and  then 
from  the  lower  Calumet  River  and  from  Lake  Michigan  near  the 
mouth  of  that  stream.  It  inhabits  both  fresh  and  brackish 
water,  and  is  found  throughout  northern  Europe,  and  in  North 
America  as  far  southward  as  the  Great  Lake  region.  It  is  thus 
a  strictly  northern  species. 

Our  only  hint  of  its  food  was  given  us  by  the  examination  of 
two  specimens  which  had  fed  wholly  on  the  larvae  of  gnats 
(Chironomus  and  Simulium)  and  on  various  Entomostraca. 

*  Not  verified  for  P.  sinensis  of  China. 


PERCOPSID^: THE   TROUT-PERCHES  225 

FAMILY  PERCOPSID^ 

THE    TROUT-PERCHES 

Body  moderately  elongate,  somewhat  compressed;  caudal  peduncle 
rather  long  and  slender;  scales  with  edges  strongly  ctenoid;  head  naked; 
lateral  line  developed;  skeleton  bony;  anterior  vertebrae  simple;  ventral  fins 
abdominal,  somewhat  anterior;  dorsal  fin  with  2  spines;  ventrals  with  1 
rudimentary  spine  and  about  8  rays;  anal  with  1  or  2  spines;  caudal  forked; 
an  adipose  fin  present;  no  mesocoracoid ;  gill-membranes  separate,  free  from 
isthmus;  branchiostegals  6;  pseudobranchise  present;  gill-rakers  short, 
tubercle-like;  opercle  with  entire  edges;  mouth  small,  horizontal;  premaxil- 
laries  not  protractile;  teeth  very  small,  villiform,  on  premaxillaries  and 
lower  jaw  only;  stomach  siphonal,  with  about  10  well-developed  pyloric 
caeca;  air-bladder  present;  with  an  open  duct  (Boulenger);  ova  large,  not 
falling  into  the  abdominal  cavity  before  extrusion. 

Small  fishes  of  the  fresh  waters  of  North  America;  2  genera 
known,  each  containing  a  single  species;  one  species  found  in 
Illinois. 

This  family  "  shows  the  remarkable  combination  of  true  fin- 
spines,  ctenoid  scales,  and  a  percoid  mouth,  with  the  adipose  fin, 
abdominal  ventrals,  and  naked  head  of  the  Isospondyli"  (herring- 
like  forms).  It  is  doubtless  a  surviving  remnant  of  a  fauna 
which  marked  the  transition  from  the  soft-rayed  herring-like 
forms  to  the  later-appearing  groups  of  acanthopterygian  fishes. 

GENUS  PERCOPSIS  AGASSIZ 

TROUT-PERCH 

Characters  in  the  main  as  above,  differing  from  the  single  other  known 
genus  of  the  family  (Columbia  Eigenmann,  recently  described  from  the 
Pacific  slope)  in  the  weaker  dorsal  spines,  the  more  translucent  body,  and 
the  relative  absence  of  serration  of  the  preopercle.  Atlantic  slope  and  Great 
Lake  region,  in  clear  cold  waters ;  one  species. 

PERCOPSIS  GUTTATUS  AGASSIZ 

TROUT-PERCH 

(MAP  LXVII) 

Agassiz,  1850,  Lake  Superior,  286. 

G.,  VI,  207;  J.  &  G.,  322;  M.  V.,  82;  J.  &  E.,  I,  784;  N.,  43;  J.,  53;  F.,  72;  L,.,  22. 

Length  6  inches;  body  elongate,  not  much  compressed,  strongly  tapered 
posteriorly,  the  caudal  peduncle  slender;  depth  3.9  to  4.5;  greatest  width  % 
greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  2.7  to  3.2  in  its  length.  Color  of  upper 


226  FISHES    OP    ILLINOIS 

parts  pale  olive-buff,  the  scales  with  faint  edgings  of  black;  8  or  9  black 
spots  on  each  side  anterior  to  adipose  fin  and  above  lateral  line;  a  dusky 
median  lateral  band,  more  or  less  broken  into  spots;  lower  portion  of  sides 
and  belly  silvery;  entire  fish  translucent;  the  cerebral  membranes  showing 
olive  underneath  skin  of  head;  peritoneum  silvery;  cheeks,  opercles,  jaws, 
and  chin  silvery  with  emerald  luster;  iris  silvery  white  with  faint  luster  of 
rose;  fins  plain,  transparent.  Head  slender,  conical,  3.2  to  3.7;  width  of  head 
1.8  to  2  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  3.5  to  4  in  head;  eye  .9  to  1.2  in 
interorbital  space,  3.3  to  4  in  head;  nose  2.4  to  3;  mouth  moderate,  sub- 
inferior,  maxillary  short  of  orbit,  3  to  4  in  head;  lower  jaw  included.  Dorsal 
I  (occasionally  II),  9-11;  the  spine  very  weak,  the  fin  inserted  much  nearer 
muzzle  than  base  of  caudal,  almost  exactly  over  ventrals;  caudal  deeply 
forked;  anal  I,  5-7;  ventrals  abdominal,  nearer  anal  than  angle  of  union  of 
gill-membranes;  pectorals  reaching  past  front  of  ventrals,  1.2  to  1.5  in  head. 
Scale  6,  47-54,  7,  ctenoid,  being  most  distinctly  so  on  caudal  peduncle; 
lateral  line  developed,  nearly  straight. 

This  interesting  and  graceful  little  fish,  a  distinctly  northern 
species  in  its  main  range,  has  been  found  by  us  chiefly  in  clear 
spring  waters  at  various  points  along  the  Illinois  River  from 
Meredosia  to  Hennepin.  We  have  taken  it  also  once  from  a 
small  stream  near  Lincoln,  in  Logan  county,  and  once  from  Lake 
Michigan,  off  Chicago.  It  is  a  wide-ranging  species,  known  from 
the  streams  of  New  England  and  Quebec,  thence  west  to  Kansas 
and  northward  to  Hudson  Bay  and  the  Saskatchewan  Valley 
near  Medicine  Hat.  It  is  common  in  the  Great  Lakes,  but  rare 
south  of  them. 

It  spawns  in  spring,  and  females  greatly  distended  with  eggs 
were  caught  by  us  at  Havana  on  the  10th  of  March.  Surface 
says  that  in  Cayuga  Lake,  New  York,  females  captured  in  May 
were  in  ripe  condition. 

FAMILY  ATHERINID>£ 

THE   SILVERSIDES 

Body  rather  elongate,  somewhat  compressed;  scales  generally  cycloid; 
head  usually  scaly;  lateral  line  absent  or  represented  by  only  a  few  rudi- 
mentary tubes;  skeleton  osseous;  anterior  vertebras  simple;  ventral  fins 
abdominal;  two  dorsal  fins,  well  separated,  the  first  consisting  of  3  to  8 
slender  flexible  spines,  and  the  second  of  soft  rays;  anal  with  a  weak  spine; 
no  mesocoracoid;  gill-membranes  not  connected, free  from  isthmus;  branchi- 
ostegals  5  or  6;  pseudobranchise  present;  gill-rakers  usually  long  and  slender; 
opercular  bones  without  spines  or  serrature;  premaxillaries  protractile  or 
not;  teeth  usually  present  on  jaws,  sometimes  on  vomer  and  palatines;  no 
pyloric  casca;  air-bladder  present. 


LABIDESTHES BROOK    SILVERSIDES          ,  22? 

"Carnivorous  fishes,  mostly  of  small  size,  living  in  great 
schools  near  the  shore  in  temperate  and  tropical  seas;  a  few 
species  in  fresh  water."  A  single  genus  and  species  found  in 
Illinois  waters.  The  presence  in  all  the  species  of  a  silvery  band 
along  the  side,  often  underlaid  by  black  pigment,  gives  the 
common  name  to  the  family. 

GENUS  LABIDESTHES  COPE 

BROOK    SILVERSIDES 

Body  elongate,  more  or  less  compressed;  belly  rounded  before  ventrals; 
head  oblong,  compressed;  mouth  small,  the  cleft  curved,  oblique,  the  jaws 
being  prolonged  into  a  short  depressed  beak;  premaxillaries  freely  protractile, 
broad  behind;  lower  jaw  longer  than  upper;  no  teeth  on  vomer  or  palatines; 
both  dorsals  short;  scales  with  entire  edges.  Eastern  North  America  to 
Texas;  confined  to  fresh  waters;  a  single  species  known. 

LABIDESTHES  SICCULUS   (COPE) 

BROOK    SILVERSIDE 
(PL.,  P.  220;  MAP  LXVIII) 

Cope,  1865,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  81   (Chirostoma). 

J.  &  G.,  406;   M.  V.,  100;   J.  &  E.,  I,  805;   N.,  42;   J.,  51;   F.,  70;   F.  F.,  I.  6,  69;    L.,  22. 

Length  3  inches;  body  quite  slender  and  elongate  and  considerably 
compressed;  depth  6  to  8;  greatest  width  about  %  in  greatest  depth;  depth 
of  caudal  peduncle  2.3  to  3  in  its  length.  'Color  pale  olive-green,  translucent; 
a  very  distinct  lateral  silvery  band,  scarcely  b'roader  than  pupil,  bounded 
above  by  a  dark  line;  back  dotted  with  black'  (J.  &  E.,  slightly  emended); 
dorsal  of  males  tipped  with  black.  Head  long  and  pointed,  flattened,  and 
broader  above  than  below,  4.1  to  4.6;  width  of  head  2.1  to  2.5;  interorbital 
space  3.5  to  4;  eye  3.5  to  4;  nose  long  and  slender,  the  jaws  prolonged  into  a 
short  depressed  beak,  whose  length  is  nearly  twice  the  eye;  mouth  large, 
maxillary  to  front  of  orbit,  cleft  2.2  to  2.6;  jaws  equal,  edge  of  upper  jaw 
strongly  concave.  Dorsal  IV-I,  9  to  11;  first  dorsal  inserted  slightly  behind 
front  of  anal;  caudal  forked;  anal  I,  21  to  24;  ventrals  abdominal,  much 
nearer  front  of  anal  than  throat;  pectorals  nearly  to  ventrals,  1.3  to  1.6  in 
head.  Scales  cycloid,  15-16,  75-79;  lateral  line  represented  by  a  few  isolated 
pores  (as  a  rule  only  on  caudal  peduncle) ;  cheeks  and  opercles  scaled. 

This  delicate  and  exquisite  little  fish,  slender  as  a  pike,  semi- 
translucent,  and  decorated  with  lateral  stripes  of  brilliant  silver, 
is  distributed  through  the  northern,  central,  and  eastern  parts 
of  the  state,  but  is  wanting  in  all  our  collections  from  the  Kas- 
kaskia,  the  Big  Muddy,  the  Saline,  and  the  waters  of  extreme 
southern  Illinois.  It  evidentlv  avoids  the  lower  Illinoisan 


228  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

glaciation.  It  is  more  abundant  north  than  south,  the  fre- 
quency ratios  of  our  121  collections  of  it  being  approximately 
as  1,  2,  and  3,  for  southern,  central,  and  northern  Illinois  respec- 
tively. 

It  occurs  in  a  great  variety  of  waters  from  Lake  Michigan 
and  the  northeastern  glacial  lakes  of  Illinois  to  the  borders  of 
the  main  stream  of  the  Illinois  River  and  the  muddy  lakes  of 
the  Illinois  bottoms,  commonest,  however,  in  the  quieter  and 
clearer  parts  of  the  waters  which  it  inhabits.  We  have  found 
it  somewhat  most  abundant  in  the  smaller  rivers  (coefficient 
1.67),  and  next  in  the  glacial  lakes  (1.13)  and  in  lowland  lakes 
and  sloughs  (1.01).  It  is  not  infrequent,  however,  in  our  collec- 
tions from  creeks  and  the  larger  rivers  (.76  and  .77). 

Outside  the  state,  it  is  present  in  all  the  Great  Lakes,  and 
ranges  thence  southward  to  Florida  and  southwestward  to 
Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Texas. 

It  seems  to  live  wholly  on  the  animal  plankton,  apparently 
catching  its  minute  prey  one  by  one,  as  a  pike  captures  fish. 
Its  mouth,  though  small,  is  well  equipped  with  teeth,  and  its 
gill-rakers  are  unusually  well  developed,  being  numerous, 
slender,  armed  with  minute  denticles,  and  longer  than  the  gill- 
filaments.  Corresponding  to  its  predaceous  habit,  its  intestine 
is  uncommonly  short,  the  whole  alimentary  canal  being  consider- 
ably shorter  than  the  body  without  the  head.  The  food  of 
twenty-five  specimens,  obtained  from  widely  scattered  localities, 
was  wholly  animal,  arid  consisted  mostly  of  minute  larvae  of 
gnats  (Chironomus)  and  many  species  of  Entomostraca,  both 
copepods  and  Cladocera.  Land  insects  and  spiders,  washed  or 
fallen  into  the  water,  were  also  frequent  in  its  food,  including 
forms  as  small  as  plant-lice,  chalcids,  springtails,  and  thrips. 
One  specimen  had  taken  a  very  small  unrecognizable  minnow. 

FAMILY  APHREDODERID^E 

THE    PIRATE-PERCHES 

Body  oblong,  elevated  at  base  of  dorsal,  compressed  behind;  caudal 
peduncle  thick;  scales  strongly  ctenoid;  sides  of  head  scaly;  lateral  line  im- 
perfect; skeleton  osseous;  anterior  vertebrae  simple;  ventrals  thoracic,  with  a 
small  spine  and  more  than  5  soft  rays;  dorsal  fin  single,  with  3  or  4  small 
spines;  anal  with  two  slender  spines;  caudal  rounded;  no  mesocoracoid:  gill- 
membranes  slightly  joined  to  isthmus  anteriorly;  branchiostegals  6;  pseudo- 
branchiae  obsolete;  gill-rakers  tubercle-like,  dentate;  preopercle  and  pre- 
orbital  with  free  edges  sharply  serrate;  opercle  with  a  spine;  mouth  some- 


Al'HUEDODERUS — PIRATE-PERCHES  229 

what  oblique;  premaxillary  not  protractile;  maxillary  without  evident  sup- 
plemental bone;  teeth  in  villiform  bands  on  jaws,  vomer,  palatines,  and 
pterygoids;  pyloric  caeca  about  12;  intestinal  canal  ending  at  throat  in  the 
adult,  the  vent  more  posterior  in  the  young,  migrating  forward,  with  growth, 
from  just  behind  the  ventral  fins;  air-bladder  simple,  large,  adherent,  the 
duct  probably  obsolete. 

Fresh  waters  of  the  United  States;  a  single  living  genus  and 
species ;  several  fossil  genera  While  the  structure  of  the  skeleton 
is  essentially  that  of  percoid  fishes,  the  character  of  the  forward 
position  of  the  vent  leaves  the  Aphredoderidce  singularly  isolated, 
without  close  relationships  with  the  true  perch-like  forms. 

GENUS  APHREDODERUS  LE  SUEUE 

PIRATE-PERCHES 

Characters  of  the  genus  included  above. 


FIG.  55 


APHREDODERUS  SAYANUS   (&ILLIAMS) 

PIRATE-PERCH 
(MAP  LXIX) 

Gilliams,  1824,  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  IV,  81  (Scolopsis). 

J.    &   G.,   460;    M.   V.,   113;    J.   &   E.,  I,   786;    N.,    39    (A.   sayanus   and    Sternotremia 
isolepis);   J.,  48;    (Aphododerus  isolepis);   F.,  70;   L.,  22. 

Length  2  to  4  inches;  body  robust,  rather  deep  and  considerably  com- 
pressed, the  caudal  peduncle  stout;  depth  3.1  to  3.5;  greatest  width  scarcely 
more  than  %  greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.6  to  1.9  in  its  length. 
Color  dark  olivaceous  over  transparent  pinkish  to  lavender,  the  head  and 
body  everywhere  profusely  specked  with  black,  appearing  bluish  over  the 
ground-color;  under  side  of  head  and  sometimes  fore  part  of  breast  and  belly 
yellowish;  two  blackish  bars  at  base  of  caudal;  fins,  except  ventrals,  dusky 
with  a  more  deeply  pigmented  band  around  bases;  ventrals  yellowish ;  median 
fins  with  a  narrow  marginal  fringe  of  white.  Breeding  males  and  females  show 
much  iridescent  color,  the  predominating  lusters  being  violet  and  purple; 


230  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

light  coppery,  green,  and  silvery  sometimes  visible;  the  entire  bodies  of 
breeding  males  often  almost  black.  Head  broad  below,  depressed,  the  pro- 
file concave,  2.8  to  3.2;  width  of  head  1.5  to  1.8  in  its  length;  interorbital 
space  3.3  to  4;  eye  1.4  to  1.8  in  interorbital,  4.5  to  5.3  in  head;  nose  2.8  to 
3.4  (usually  less  than  3.2);  mouth  moderate,  oblique,  maxillary  nearly  to 
front  of  orbit,  2.7  to  2.9;  lower  jaw  projecting;  sides  and  top  of  head,  chin, 
and  lower  jaw  with  rows  of  sensory  papillae,  as  in  Amblyopsidce.  Dorsal  III, 
9-12  (usually  10  or  11),  the  fin  nearer  muzzle  than  base  of  caudal,  behind 
ventrals;  caudal  fin  broadly  rounded,  with  a  slight  notch;  anal  II,  6;  ventrals 
jugular  in  adult*,  nearer  angle  of  gill-membranes  than  front  of  anal;  pectorals 
1.4  to  1.8  in  head,  reaching  more  than  half  way  to  anal.  Scales  9-13  (usually 
11-12),  49-59,  12-14,  strongly  ctenoid;  lateral  line  developed  anteriorly; 
cheeks  and  opercles  fully  scaled. 

This  obscure  but  peculiar  little  fish  has  been  found  by  us  in 
muddy  pools  and  streams  throughout  Illinois,  much  the  most 
abundantly  southward  It  is  indeed  so  rare  in  northern  Illinois 
that  only  one  of  our  hundred  collections  of  it  has  been  taken  in 
that  part  of  the  state,  giving  us  a  frequency  coefficient  of  less 
than  5  per  cent.,  while  that  for  central  Illinois  is  .72  and  that  for 
southern  Illinois  is  2.23.  We  have  found  it  most  abundant  in 
creeks  (coefficient,  2.51),  and  about  half  as  common  in  large 
rivers  (1.1)  and  in  lowland  lakes  (1.24).  The  streams  and  situa- 
tions it  most  affects  are  those  in  which  there  is  little  or  no  current 
and  a  muddy  bottom,  our  coefficient  of  the  species  for  quiet 
water  being  3.26,  and  that  for  a  muddy  bottom,  3.26. 

The  general  distribution  of  the  pirate-perch  carries  it  from 
Long  Island  around  the  coasts  of  the  Atlantic  and  the  Gulf  to 
Texas,  and  northward  up  the  Mississippi  basin  to  South  Dakota 
and  Minnesota  and  through  the  Great  Lakes  at  least  as  far  east 
as  Lake  Erie.  It  has  not  been  reported  from  Canada. 

It  was  named  the  "  pirate-perch "  by  Dr.  C.  C.  Abbott, 
because  it  ate  only  fishes  when  confined  in  his  aquarium.  Studies 
made  by  us  in  Illinois  show,  however,  that  fishes  form  only  a 
small  part  of  its  normal  food.  The  intestine  is  short  and  simple, 
less  than  the  length  of  the  head  and  body  without  the  tail;  the 
gill-rakers  are  short,  thick,  blunt,  and  few,  and  covered  with 
short  spinules;  and  the  pharyngeal  jaws  are  small  plates  covered 
with  short,  sharp,  minute  teeth,  similar  to  those  of  the  sunfishes. 
The  mouth  is  large,  but  not  remarkably  protractile.  Judging 
from  19  specimens  dissected,  the  food  is  virtually  all  animal. 
Small  fishes  had  been  eaten  by  but  two,  the  only  one  recogniza- 
ble being  a  minnow  (Cyprinidce) .  Insects  formed  the  major 

*  On  variability  in  position  of  vent  with  age,  see  Jordan  (Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist., 
No.  2.  1878,  p.  48),  and  Jordan  and  Evermann  (Bull.  47,  U'.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  Pt.  I.,  p.  787). 


ELASSOMID.E — THE    PIGMY    SUXF1SHES  231 

part  of  the  food,  all  of  them  of  aquatic  species  except  a  few 
gnats,  accidental  in  the  water.  Nearly  half  of  the  food  consisted 
of  larvae  of  gnat-like  insects  (Chironomus  and  Corethra),  and  the 
remainder  was  mostly  larvse  of  May-flies,  water-bugs,  and  larvae 
of  aquatic  beetles,  together  with  a  few  amphipod  and  isopod 
crustaceans.  One  of  these  fish  had  eaten  a  water- worm  (Lum- 
briculus]  allied  to  the  earthworms,  and  Entomostraca  had  been 
taken  by  a  few.  A  comparison  of  the  food  of  specimens  of 
various  ages,  beginning  with  those  in  which  the  vent  was  just 
in  front  of  the  ventral  fins  and  ending  with  those  in  which  it  had 
moved  far  forward  on  the  throat,  gave  no  hint  of  the  reasons  for 
this  extraordinary  step  in  development,  these  fishes  all  having 
eaten  substantially  the  same  food. 

Dr.  Abbott  says  that  the  pirate-perch  builds  a  nest  which  is 
guarded  by  both  parents,  who  likewise  protect  the  young  until 
they  are  about  a  third  of  an  inch  long.  The  species  spawned  in 
the  hatchery  troughs  at  Meredosia  May  1,  1899,  and  males 
running  with  milt  were  taken  in  Meredosia  Bay  on  May  23. 


FAMILY  ELASSOMID^E 

THE    PIGMY   SUNFISHES 

Body  oblong,  compressed,  covered  with  large  cycloid  scales;  head  scaly; 
lateral  line  obsolete;  skeleton  osseous;  anterior  vertebrae  simple,  ventrals 
thoracic,  I,  5;  dorsal  fin  single,  with  4  or  5  spines;  anal  with  3  spines;  caudal 
rounded;  no  mesocoracoid;  gill-membranes  broadly  united,  free  from  isthmus; 
branchiostegals  5;  pseudobranchise  small,  glandular,  covered  by  skin;  gill- 
rakers  tubercle-like;  preopercles,  preorbitals,  and  opercles  with  edges  entire; 
mouth  terminal;  upper  jaw  protractile;  each  jaw  with  strong  conical  teeth, 
in  few  series;  vomer  with  a  few  weak  teeth;  palatines  toothless;  no  pyloric 
caeca;  vent  normally  placed;  air-bladder  without  duct,  so  far  as  known. 

Very  small  fishes,  inhabiting  the  swamps  of  the  southern 
United  States.  A  single  genus,  with  2  species.  The  Elassomidce 
differ  from  the  Centrarchidce  chiefly  in  their  small  size.  Cycloid 
scales,  while  not  normal  to  Central chidae,  are  found  in  some 
forms. 

GENUS  ELASSOMA  JORDAN 

PIGMY   SUNFISHES 

Characters  of  the  genus  included  above. 


232  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

Two  species:  E.  zonatum,  widely  distributed  in  the  southern 
United  States;  and  E.  evergladei;  confined  to  the  swamps  of 
southern  Georgia  and  of  Florida. 

ELASSOMA  ZONATUM  JORDAN 

PIGMY   SUNFISH 

Jordan,  1877,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  X,  50. 

J.  &  G.,  461;  M.  V.,  113;  B.,  I,  34;  J.  &  E.,  I,  982;  J.,  47;  F.,  70;  L.,  23. 

Length  \l/%  inches;  body  oblong,  deep  and  compressed,  the  profile 
convex;  depth  3.3  to  3.6;  greatest  width  about  Y^  greatest  depth;  depth 
caudal  peduncle  1.8  to  2  in  its  length.  "Color  olive-green,  everywhere  finely 
punctulate;  sides  with  about  11  parallel  vertical  bands  of  dark  olive,  about 
equal  in  width,  narrower  than  the  eye,  about  as  wide  as  the  pale  interspaces; 
a  conspicuous  roundish  black  spot,  nearly  as  large  as  the  eye,  on  the  sides 
just  above  the  axis  of  the  body,  under  the  beginning  of  the  dorsal;  soft  fins 
faintly  barred;  a  blackish  bar  at  base  of  caudal.  Head  2.9  to  3,  its  width  in 
its  length  1.8  to  1.9;  interorbital  space  4  to  4.3  in  head;  eye  3  to  3.5;  nose  short, 
blunt,  5.3  to  5.8;  mouth  terminal,  oblique,  maxillary  past  front  of  orbit; 
jaws  equal.  Dorsal  IV  to  V,  9  to  10;  caudal  rounded;  anal  III,  5;  ventrals 
past  vent;  pectorals  1.8  to  1.9  in  head.  Scales  18-19,  37-39,  cycloid;  no  lateral 
line;  cheeks  and  opercles  scaled. 

This  little  fish,  rare  in  our  waters  and  not  abundant  any- 
where, has  been  taken  by  us  in  only  six  collections,  all  from 
southern  Illinois,  four  of  them  from  the  Wabash  Valley,  one  from 
Running  Lake,  and  one  from  a  bluff  spring  in  Union  county. 
The  Wabash  localities  are  Little  Fox  River  at  Phillipstown, 
Wabash  River  at  Wabash  station,  Drew  pond  in  White  county, 
and  Swan  pond  near  St.  Francisville.  It  is  a  southern  fish, 
reported  from  North  and  South  Carolina,  Alabama,  Louisiana, 
and  Texas. 

FAMILY  CENTRARCHID/E 

THE   SUNFISHES 

Body  more  or  less  shortened  and  compressed,  the  regions  above  and  be- 
low the  horizontal  axis  about  equally  developed;  scales  usually  not  very 
strongly  ctenoid,  in  rare  cases  cycloid;  sides  of  head  scaly;  lateral  line  present; 
skeleton  osseous,  anterior  vertebrae  simple;  abdominal  vertebras  from  3d  or 
4th  to  last  with  transverse  processes;  ventral  fins  thoracic,  typically  with  1 
spine  and  5  rays;  dorsal  fins  confluent,  the  spines  6  to  13  (usually  10);  anal 
spines  3  to  9;  caudal  slightly  emarginate  or  weakly  furcate;  no  mesocoracoid; 
gill-membranes  separate  from  isthmus;  branchiostegals  6,  rarely  7;  pseudo- 
branchiae  small,  nearly  or  quite  covered  by  skin;  gill-rakers  variously  formed, 
always  armed  with  small  teeth;  preopercle  entire  or  somewhat  serrate;  opercle 


CENTRAKCHIDJE — THE    SUNFISHES  233 

ending  behind  in  two  flat  points  or  prolonged  in  a  black  or  partially  black 
flap  at  the  angle;  mouth  terminal;  premaxillaries  protractile;  maxillary 
typically  with  a  supplemental  bone,  which  is  obsolescent  or  wanting  in  some 
small-mouthed  forms;  teeth  in  villiform  bands  on  premaxillaries,  lower  jaw, 
and  vomer,  and  usually  on  palatines;  tongue  sometimes  with  teeth;  no  canine 
teeth;  lower  pharyngeal  bones  separate,  with  conic  or  paved  teeth;  intestinal 
canal  short;  pyloric  cseca  5  to  10;  air-bladder  without  duct  in  adult;  color- 
ation usually  brilliant;  the  young  more  slender  than  the  adults  and  in  most 
species  marked  by  broad  transverse  bars. 

Fresh  waters  of  North  America;  genera  about  12,  species 
about  30.  Seven  genera  and  13  species  found  in  the  waters 
of  Illinois. 

This  family  includes  the  crappies  and  black  bass  in  addition 
to  the  smaller  forms  more  commonly  referred  to  under  the  name 
of  "sunfishes."  The  species  range  in  size  from  the  smaller 
sunfishes,  some  of  which  seldom  exceed  3^2  inches  in  length,  to 
the  rock  bass  and  the  crappie,  which  reach  a  weight  of  more 
than  1  Ib,  and  the  black  bass,  the  large-mouth  form  of  which 
occasionally  weighs  12  to  14  Ib. 

The  typical  deep-bodied  sunfishes,  taken  together  as  a  group 
of  species,  are  about  equally  frequent  in  lowland  lakes,  creeks, 
and  the  smaller  rivers,  and  about  half  as  common  in  upland  lakes 
and  in  rivers  of  the  larger  size,  our  general  coefficients  being 
1.13  for  each  of  the  first  three  situations  and  .6  and  .55  respec- 
tively for  the  last  two. 

All  the  family  are  spring  spawners  so  far  as  known.  Most  of 
the  species  build  nests,  which  consist  of  holes  scooped  out  in 
alluvial,  leafy,  or  sandy  bottom  about  the  margins  of  the  waters 
they  inhabit.  Sexual  differences  in  form  or  coloration  are  not 
much  developed. 

All  except  the  very  small  species  are  valued  as  food,  the 
sunfishes  and  crappies  being  among  the  best  of  pan-fishes.  The 
output  of  sunfishes,  not  including  crappie  and  bass,  for  the  states 
of  the  Mississippi  Valley  in  1899  was  910,963  fe.  Of  the  total, 
507,680  Ib  were  furnished  by  the  Illinois  River  alone. 

The  sunfishes  proper — that  is,  the  Centrarchidce  exclusive  of 
the  black  bass — are  a  well-marked  and  homogeneous  group  of 
species  as  to  form  and  external  structure,  but  a  diverse  assem- 
blage as  to  ecological  relationships.  Some  of  the  species,  for 
example,  prefer  running  water,  and  others  quiet;  some  a  clean 
hard  bottom,  and  others  a  bottom  of  mud;  some  turbid  water, 
and  others  clear ;  some  creeks  and  rivulets,  and  others  the  larger 
rivers.  They  also  form  a  diverse  group  in  respect  to  the  dis- 

—24  P 


"334  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

position  of  the  several  species  to  avoid  each  others'  company, 
some  of  the  species  having  been  found  together  in  our  collections 
with  more  than  twice  the  average  frequency,  and  others  with  less 
than  a  third  that  average.  The  family  affords,  indeed,  an 
excellent  illustration  of  the  disposition  of  species  close!}'  allied 
in  structure  and  in  classification  and  inhabiting  the  same  area  to 
evade  the  mutually  injurious  competition  to  which  their  similar 
natural  endowments  expose  them,  by  avoiding  each  others' 
company — by  choosing,  as  a  rule,  different  feeding  grounds  and 
different  places  of  resort.  If  we  compare,  for  example,  the  pro- 
portionate frequency  with  which  the  closely  similar  species  of 
the  genus  Lepomis  have  been  taken  together  in  our  collections — 
in  the  same  haul  of  the  net,  or  from  the  same  situation  at  the 
same  time — with  the  frequency  of  associate  occurrence  of  the 
widely  dissimilar  species  of  the  other  genera  of  the  family,  we 
find  that  the  unlike  species  have  been  taken  together  much  more 
frequently  than  the  like — in  a  ratio  of  \Y^  to  1 ;  that  the  species  of 
Lepomis  have,  indeed,  been  taken  in  company  with  species  of 
other  genera  considerably  more  frequently  than  with  each  other. 
The  sunfishes,  consequently,  are  not  an  associate  group,  but 
tend  to  disperse  themselves  over  a  large  variety  of  ecological 
situations,  those  least  like  each  other  being  most  likely  to  meet 
on  common  ground,  where  their  unlike  capacities  enable  them 
to  live  together  in  a  non-competitive  way. 

Of  our  fifteen  species  of  sunfishes  proper,  including  the 
crappies  in  this  number,  eleven  are  abundant  enough  in  this 
state  to  play  a  significant  part  in  the  life  of  the  family.  Three  of 
these  species  have  a  more  or  less  limited  general  distribution 
within  the  state.  The  round  sunfish  (Centrarchus  macropterus) 
is  confined  to  extreme  southern  Illinois;  the  pumpkinseed 
(Eupomotis  gibbosus)  is  found  almost  wholly  in  the  northern  half 
of  the  state,  and,  except  in  northern  Illinois  proper,  only  along 
the  main  streams  of  the  largest  rivers ;  and  the  long-eared  sunfish 
(Lepomis  megalotis),  which  is  distributed  throughout  the  state, 
is  so  concentrated  in  southern  and  eastern  Illinois  that  its  com- 
petitive relations  are  strongly  affected  by  this  fact.  The  war- 
mouth  (Chaenobryttus  gulosus)  is,  indeed,  somewhat  similarly 
distributed,  the  contrast  being,  however,  less  marked  than  in 
megalotis.  The  rock  bass  (Ambloplites  rupestris)  is  sharply 
separated  from  most  of  the  other  sunfishes  by  its  strong  prefer- 
ence for  swift,  clear  streams;  the  bluegill  (Lepomis  pallidus),  the 
warmouth,  and  Lepomis  miniatus  are  rather  strongly  distin- 


CENTKARCHID^: — THE   SUNFISHES  235 

guished  by  their  greater  frequency  in  lakes  and  ponds;  while 
the  warmouth  and  Lepomis  humilis  are  especially  noticeable 
because  of  their  high  frequencies  over  a  muddy  bottom.  The 
principal  species  of  the  larger  rivers  are  the  two  crappies  (es- 
pecially sparoides)  and  the  bluegill;  those  of  the  smaller  rivers 
and  creeks  are  the  rock  bass,  the  long-eared  sunfish  and  Lepomis 
humilis;  and  a  special  creek  species  is  the  green  sunfish  (L. 
cyanellus),  the  usual  sunfish  of  the  smaller  prairie  streams  of 
central  Illinois. 

These  differences  of  local  situation  and  affiliation  are  most 
evident  in  our  miscellaneous  collections  distributed  over  the 
minor  waters  of  the  state,  and  such  distinctions  diappear  largely 
in  the  Illinois  River,  which  seems  to  serve  as  a  kind  of  reservoir 
or  metropolis  for  the  fish  population  of  the  country,  in  which  its 
various  elements  unite  and  mingle  in  a  relatively  indiscriminate 
way.  This  fact  appears  especially  on  a  comparison  of  the  data 
of  the  collections  made  at  Meredosia  and  at  Havana — about  a 
third  of  our  whole  number — with  those  made  outside.  Thus, 
76  of  our  170  collections  of  the  pale  crappie  were  made  at  either 
Havana  or  Meredosia,  and  94  of  them  came  from  other  places. 
Fifty-five  percent. of  these  76  Illinois  River  collections  contained 
also  the  bluegill,  while  only  27  per  cent,  of  the  94  collections 
outside  these  points  contained  both  species.  That  is,  local 
differences  of  distribution,  signifying  ecological  distinctions, 
were  twice  as  evident  in  the  collections  made  from  the  smaller 
waters  as  from  those  made  from  the  Illinois. 

In  addition  to  these  distinguishable  differences  of  local  prefer- 
ence, the  sunfishes  are  more  strongly  differentiated  than  usual 
with  respect  to  their  feeding  structures — the  mouth,  the  gill- 
rakers  and  the  pharyngeal  teeth.  Those  with  large  mouths 
have  a  large  ratio  of  fishes  and  crawfishes  in  the  food,  those  with 
long  gill-rakers  take  more  Entomostraca,  and  those  with  broad 
and  heavy  pharyngeal  bones,  bearing  stout  blunt  teeth,  live  more 
largely  on  mollusks.  Additional  details  on  this  topic  will  be 
found  in  the  discussion  of  the  several  genera  and  species. 

KEY  TO  GENERA  OF  CENTRARCHID/E  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Dorsal  fin  little  longer  than  anal,  if  any,  its  length  1  to  1.4  times  length  of 

anal  base;  anal  spines  5  to  8  in  number. 

b.  Dorsal  spines  5  to  8  (occasionally  9  or  even  10) Pomoxis. 

bb.     Dorsal  spines  11  to  13. 

c.  Anal  spines  7  or  8  (occasionally  6),  the  rays  13  to  15 Centrarchus. 

cc.     Anal  spines  6,  rays  10  or  11 Ambloplites. 


36  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

aa.     Dorsal  more  than  twice  length  of  anal;  anal  spines -3. 

d.  Body  comparatively  short  and  deep,  depth  in  adults  as  a  rule  more  than  % 

of  length;  dorsal  fin  not  deeply  emarginate,  the  shortest  spine  behind 
middle  of  fin  more  than  %  height  of  longest;  operculum  entire  behind,  not 
emarginate,  more  or  less  prolonged  in  a  bony  process  or  flap  with  a 
rounded  posterior  margin. 

e.  Tongue  and  pterygoids*  with  teeth;   maxillary  reaching  past  pupil 

.  Chaenobryttus. 

ee.  Tongue  and  pterygoids  toothless;  maxillary  in  most  species  short  of  middle 
of  orbit  (to  middle  in  L.  cyanellus). 

f.  Lower  pharyngeals    (Fig.    64   and   65)    narrow,   the   width   in   the   length   of 

toothed  portion  about  3,  outer  margin  straight  or  weakly  concave,  the 
teeth  long,  slender,  and  acuminate;  pectorals  never  reaching  beyond 
vertical  from  base  of  anal;  opercular  flap  without  red,  or  if  red  is  present, 

with  the  color  forming  a  border  and  not  a  roundish  spot Lepomis. 

ff.  Lower  pharyngeals  (Fig.  66  and  67)  broad,  the  width  in  the  length  of  the 
toothed  portion  about  2,  the  outer  margin  a  double  curve;  teeth  short, 
bluntly  rounded  or  paved;  opercular  flap  with  a  conspicuous  roundish 
red  spot  on  its  lower  posterior  corner  or  (in  case  the  red  spot  is  wanting) 
the  pectorals  reaching  past  front  of  anal  (to  a  vertical  from  last  anal  ray). 

Eupomotis. 

dd.  Body  comparatively  elongate,  depth  about  %  length;  dorsal  fin  deeply 
emarginate,  the  shortest  spine  behind  middle  of  fin  from  %  to  %  height  of 
longest;  operculum  ending  in  two  flat  points Micropterus. 


.tn 


FIG.  56 


FIG.  57 


Roof  (56)  and  floor  (57)  of  mouth  of  Ambloplites  rupestris  to  show  dentition  of  a  typical  sun- 
fish,  dn,  dentary;  ecp,  ectopterygoid;  enp,  entopterygoid;  hy,  hyoid;  Iph,  lower  pharyn- 
geal;  pi,  palatine;  pmx,  premaxillary;  tn,  tongue;  uph,  upper  pharyngeal;  vo,  vomer. 


See  Fig.  56  and  57  for  illustration  of  full  dentition  of  a  sunfish. 


POMOXIS CRAPPIES  237 

GENUS  POMOXIS  KAFINESQUE 

CRAPPIES 

Body  moderately  elongate,  deep  and  strongly  compressed;  opercle 
emargmate  behind;  preopercle  and  preorbital  finely  serrated;  mouth  large; 
maxillary  with  a  large  supplemental  bone;  teeth  on  vomer,  palatines,  en- 
top  terygoids,  and  tongue;  lower  pharyngeals  narrow,  with  sharp  teeth;  gill- 
rakers  long  and  slender,  numerous;  dorsal  spines  6  to  8;  anal  spines  6;  caudal 
emarginate;  scales  feebly  ctenoid. 

Eastern  United  States  and  Canada;  two  species,  which  are 
very  similar  in  habit,  ecological  relationship,  and  food,  scarcely 
avoiding  competition,  on  the  whole,  in  any  way  clearly  discernible 
in  our  data.  A  tendency  to  geographical  separation  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  annularis  is  the  more  abundant  southward  in 
the  general  area  of  the  genus,  and  sparoides  northward, — the 
latter,  indeed,  also  ranging  somewhat  the  farther  to  the  north. 
That  these  two  species  are  similarly  related  ecologically,  and 
thus  drawn  into  each  others'  company  by  their  relations  to  their 
environment  instead  of  being  separated  as  competitors,  is  shown 
by  a  comparison  of  the  coefficients  of  association  of  the  two  crap- 
pies,  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  one  of  these  crappies  and  the  com- 
mon bluegill  (Lepomis  pallidus)  on  the  other.  With  167  avail- 
able collections  of  Pomoxis  annularis  and  178  of  sparoides,  we 
find  66  joint  occurrences,  giving  us  a  frequency  of  association 
of  2.53.  Comparing,  on  the  other  hand,  Pomoxis  annularis 
and  its  167  collections  with  the  widely  and  similarly  distributed 
bluegill,  taken  220  times,  we  find  them  taken  together  in  the 
same  collections  56  times,  equivalent  to  a  coefficient  of  associa- 
tion of  2.13.  The  larger  number  of  collections  of  the  two  unlike 
species  gives  us  a  relative  frequency  of  joint  occurrence  dis- 
tinctly less  than  that  of  the  smaller  numbers  of  collections  of 
the  closely  similar  crappies. 

The  species  of  this  genus  diverge  from  the  other  sunfishes  in 
respect  especially  to  their  numerous,  long,  and  finely-toothed 
gill-rakers,  which  make  the  most  effective  straining  apparatus 
to  be  found  among  the  sunfishes,  excepting  only  the  compara- 
tively rare  round  sunfish  (Centrarchus  macropterus) .  The  mouth 
is  also  large  for  a  sunfish,  its  opening  being  considerably  in- 
creased by  the  unusual  length  of  the  lower  jaw.  These  charac- 
ters of  the  feeding  structures  are  represented  in  the  food  by  the 
presence  of  fishes,  and  by  the  quantities  of  Entomostraca  taken 
in  spring. 


238  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

KEY  TO  SPECIES  OF  POMOXIS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Dorsal  spines  typically  VI,  rarely  V  or  VII;  dorsal  distance  1.7  to  1.9  in 
length,  a  line  drawn  from  back  tip  of  maxillary  at  right  angles  with  an- 
terior margin  of  premaxillary  crossing  back  in  front  of  first  dorsal  spine; 
body  more  slender  and  profile  more  strongly  S-shaped  than  in  P.  sparoides; 

color  light,  the  dark  markings  tending  to  form  rings annularis. 

aa.  Dorsal  spines  typically  VII  or  VIII,  rarely  VI,  or  IX,  or  X;  dorsal  dis- 
tance 1.8  to  2,  the  line  from  back  of  maxillary  crossing  behind  third  or 
fourth,  or  even  fifth  or  sixth,  to  last  dorsal  spine;  color  dark,  spotted,  the 
dark  markings  not  forming  rings sparoides. 

POMOXIS  ANNULARIS  KAFTNESQUE 

WHITE   CHAPPIE 

(MAP  LXX) 

Rafinesque,  1818,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  41. 

J.  &  G.,  464;   M.  V.,  115;   B.,  I.  7   (sparoides,  part);    J.  &  E.,  I,  987;    N.,   37;    J.,  47; 
P.,  69;  F.  F.,  I.  3,  56;  L,.,  23. 

Length  12  inches;  body  elongate,  compressed,  and  back  elevated;  the 
profile  long  and  quite  strongly  S-shaped;  depth  2.2  to  2.6  in  length;  greatest 
width  about  2.75  in  greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.1  to  1.3  in  its 
length.  'Color  silvery  olive,  mottled  with  dark  green,  the  dark  marks  chiefly 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  body  and  having  a  tendency  to  form  narrow  vertical 
bars;  general  color  much  lighter  than  in  the  next  species;  dorsal  and  caudal 
fins  marked  with  green  (rather  than  blackish,  as  in  the  next  species) ;  anal  pale, 
nearly  plain;  a  dusky  opercular  spot'  (J.  &  E.  with  emendations).  Head 
long,  2.8  to  2.9;  width  of  head  2.5  to  2.8  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  4.3  to 
5.6,  convex;  eye  4.5  to  5  in  head;  nose  3.2  to  4.2,  noticeably  longer  than  in 
the  next  species  and  also  visibly  longer  than  eye;  mouth  large,  oblique, 
maxillary  past  middle  of  orbit,  2.1  to  2.3  in  head.  Dorsal  typically*  VI,  15, 
the  fin  inserted  further  from  muzzle  than  in  the  next  species,  the  dorsal  dis- 
tancef  in  the  present  species  being  1.68  to  1.88  in  the  length;  caudal  lunate; 
anal  VI  (occasionally  V),  17-19;  ventrals  past  first  anal  spine;  pectorals  1.3 
to  1.7  in  head.  Scales  6,  43-48,  12;  lateral  line  developed  on  most  or  all  scales. 

The  white  crappie  and  the  species  following  are  commonly 
regarded  in  this  state  as  the  best  for  food  of  the  sunfish  famihr, 
with  the  exception  of  the  black  bass.  The  present  species  occurs 
in  all  parts  of  the  state,  most  abundantly  in  lakes,  ponds,  and 
bayous,  but  commonly  also  in  the  smaller  rivers  and  in  creeks. 
It  seems  to  have  no  marked  local  or  ecological  preferences  to 
embarrass  its  entrance  upon  any  waters  containing  its  means 
of  subsistence.  It  enters  freely,  for  example,  upon  the  lower 
Illinoisan  glaciation,  is  found  in  the  clean  glacial  lakes  of  the 

*  Of  337  specimens  of  the  present  species  examined,  318  had  VI  dorsal  spines,  lo  had  V, 
and  4  had  VII;  of  315  specimens  of  Pomoxis  sparoides,  266  had  VII  spines,  46  had  VIII.  2  had 
VI,  1  had  IX,  and  2  had  X. 

t  In  two  typical  specimens  of  exactly  the  same  length  (6  inches),  one  annularis  and  one 
sparoides,  the  dorsal  distance  differed  8  tenths  of  one  centimeter.  This  difference  may  be  said 
to  be  due  to  difference  in  lenath  of  fins,  the  dorsals  in  both  species  terminating  at  the  same  dis- 
tance from  the  end  of  the  last  vertebra. 


POMOXJS — CHAPPIES  239 

northeastern  part  of  the  state,  and  is  reported  from  every  river 
basin  of  our  entire  area. 

From  the  Great  Lakes,  excepting  Ontario,  it  ranges  south- 
ward through  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  Alabama  and  Texas,  and 
westward  to  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  It  has  reached  the  Poto- 
mac by  way  of  connecting  canals,  has  entered  the  Erie  canal  in 
New  York,  and  is  reported  also  from  Pamlico  and  Great  Pedee 
rivers,  on  the  south  Atlantic  coast.  It  is  said  by  Jordan  to  be 
generally  abundant  in  ponds,  lagoons,  bayous,  and  all  sluggish 
waters,  and  to  be  much  more  common  in  the  southern  parts  of 
its  range.  "In  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley  the  young  of  this 
species  literally  swarm  in  the  overflow  ponds  and  bayous,  and 
vast  numbers  perish  every  year  when  these  waters  dry  up." 

A  fish  of  so  wide  a  range  has,  of  course,  many  local  names. 
In  Illinois  the  name  of  crappie  is  commonly  applied  indiscrimi- 
nately to  this  fish  and  the  one  next  described.  When  separately 
mentioned,  the  present  species  is  often  called  the  pale  crappie, 
or  the  white  crappie,  or  the  ringed  crappie,  the  last  by  reason  of 
the  more  conspicuous  vertical  bars  upon  the  sides. 

The  maximum  weight  of  the  fish  is  about  2%  pounds,  but 
the  average  of  the  Illinois  River  market  specimens  weigh  less 
than  a  pound. 

This  crappie  is  strictly  carnivorous,  living  mainly  on  insects, 
crustaceans,  and  fishes.  Four  fifths  of  the  food  of  fifteen  speci- 
mens examined  by  us  consisted  of  various  aquatic  insect  larvae, 
while  fishes  made  but  11  per  cent,  of  the  entire  food. 

Observations  made  on  market  specimens  at  Havana  indicate 
that  the  species  spawns  in  May. 

This  is  an  excellent  fish  with  which  to  stock  artificial  ponds. 
It  was  introduced  into  the  Potomac  in  1894,  and  has  now  be- 
come abundant  there.  It  takes  the  hook  well,  and  is  held  in 
high  esteem  as  a  game  fish  in  the  Southern  States  and  in  some 
parts  of  Illinois.  Dr.  Jordan  says  that  it  will  take  a  minnow 
bait  as  promptly  as  will  a  black  bass,  but  that  it  is  not  very 
pugnacious,  and,  owing  to  its  tender  mouth,  requires  consider- 
able skill  in  handling  the  tackle.  The  State  and  the  United 
States  Fish  Commissions  are  doing  much  to  maintain  the  supply 
of  this  fish  in  this  state  by  collecting  the  young  from  overflow 
ponds  along  the  Illinois  and  the  .Mississippi,  and  transplanting 
them  into  other  waters. 

The  annual  catch  of  crappie,  including  the  next  species  with 
the  present,  varies  from  800,000  to  1,300,000  pounds  for  the 


240  JISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

Mississippi  Valley.     The  Illinois  River  alone  furnished  294,000 
pounds  in  1899. 

POMOXIS  SPAROIDES   (LACEPEDE) 
BLACK  CRAPPIE;  CALICO  BASS 

(MAP  LXXI) 

Lac6p£de,  1802,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  Ill,  517  (Labrus). 

J.  &  G.,  465;    M.  V.,  115;   B.,  I,  7    (part);   J.  &  E.,  I,  987;    N.,   37   (hexacanthus) ;    J., 
47  (nigromaculatus);   F.  F.,  I.  3,  56   (nigromaculatus) ;   F.,  69;   L,.,  23. 

Length  12  inches;  body  oblong,  less  elongate  than  in  the  last  species, 
deep  and  compressed;  profile  shorter  and  less  prominently  S-shaped  than  in 
P.  annularis;  depth  2.1  to  2.4;  greatest  width  2.75  in  greatest  length;  depth 
caudal  peduncle  1.1  to  1.4  in  its  length.  Color  of  upper  parts  olivaceous, 
silvery  whitish  to  yellowish  below  and  on  belly;  body  everywhere  spotted 
with  very  dark  green  or  blackish;  much  iridescent  color  everywhere,  chiefly 
emerald  and  bluish;  cheeks  and  opercles  slaty;  a  dark  spot  at  back  of  opercle 
above  and  a  smaller  one,  looking  like  a  spinous  extension  of  opercle,  below  it; 
pupil  a  bright  deep  blue;  iris  brown,  lavender,  and  purplish  with  a  narrow 
inner  ring  of  gold;  median  fins  reticulated  (or  barred  unevenly)  with  dusky 
to  black,  when  partly  folded  having  the  appearance  of  dark  fins  spotted  with 
lighter.  Head  2.8  to  3;  width  of  head  2.3  to  2.7  in  its  length;  interorbital 
space  3.8  to  4.4,  convex;  eye  4  to  4.5  in  head;  nose  3.7  to  4.3,  little  longer 
than  eye;  mouth  oblique,  maxillary  2.1  to  2.5.  Dorsal  typically*  VII  (or 
VIII),  15,  the  fin  inserted  nearer  muzzle  than  in  last  species,  the  dorsal  dis- 
tance 1.8  to  2;  caudal  lunate;  anal  VI,  16-18;  ventrals  past  second  anal  spine; 
pectorals  1.4  to  2.1  in  head.  Scales  6,  38-44,  12;  lateral  line  complete. 

This  crappie  is  a  darker,  deeper,  and  more  handsome  fish 
than  the  preceding  one,  and,  like  it,  is  highly  valued  for  food, 
especially  as  a  pan-fish,  if  taken  where  the  water  is  not  top  muddy 
or  too  warm.  It  is  found  throughout  the  state,  frequently  in 
company  with  the  preceding  species  of  the  same  genus,  from 
which  it  scarcely  differs  appreciably  in  local  distribution,  in 
habits,  or  in  food.  According  to  our  data,  derived  from  183 
collections,  it  is  less  common  than  annularis  in  creeks,  and  has 
perhaps  a  noticeably  stronger  preference  for  water  with  a  hard 
bottom.  We  have  also  found  it  more  abundant  in  the  glacial 
lakes  of  northeastern  Illinois,  from  some  of  which,  indeed,  we 
have  not  taken  annularis  at  all. 

Its  general  range  carries  it  northward  beyond  the  preceding 
species,  and  it  is  reported  from  the  Ottawa  River,  in  Canada, 
and  from  the  Lake  of  the  Woods. 

Its  food,  according  to  our  observations,  is  substantially 
identical  with  that  of  annularis,  except  that  11  specimens  ex- 

*  See  note  on  preceding  species. 


'     CENTRAKCHUS — ROUND   SUNFISH  241 

amined  had  taken  a  larger  percentage  of  both  Entomostraca  and 
of  fishes,  and  a  smaller  one  of  aquatic  insects.  These  differences 
of  ratio  are,  however,  very  likely  local  and  seasonal. 

The  common  names  of  this  species  most  used  in  Illinois  are 
black  crappie,  calico  bass,  and  strawberry  bass,  the  first  in 
central  Illinois  and  the  others  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state. 

It  does  not  reach  as  large  a  size  as  the  white  crappie,  the 
largest  specimens  taken  weighing  not  much  over  1J£  pounds. 

The  species  spawned  in  May  at  Havana  in  1898,  and  speci- 
mens taken  as  early  as  April  19  yielded  eggs  and  milt  under 
pressure. 

This  crappie"  has  been  successfully  introduced  into  France. 
Its  hardy  endurance  of  both  heat  and  cold,  and  also  of  foul 
water,  is  especially  favorable  to  its  transportation  and  acclima- 
tization. The  statistics  of  the  catch  of  the  black  crappie  from 
the  Mississippi  and  the  Illinois  are  included  under  those  of  the 
preceding  species. 

GENUS  CENTRARCHUS  CUVIER  AND  VALENCIENNES 

ROUND    SUNFISH 

Body  short  and  deep,  compressed;  opercle  emarginate  behind;  mouth 
large;  maxillary  with  a  supplemental  bone;  teeth  on  vomer,  palatines,  en- 
topterygoids,  ectopterygoids,  and  tongue;  pharyngeal  teeth  sharp;  gill-rakers 
setiform,  very  long  and  finely  dentate,  20  to  30  in  the  lower  angle  of  the  arch; 
dorsal  spines  about  12;  anal  spines  about  8;  caudal  emarginate;  scales  not 
strongly  ctenoid.  Southern  and  southeastern  United  States;  one  species. 
The  genus  is  closely  allied  to  Pomoxis,  from  which  it  is  separated  only  by  a 
greater  development  of  the  spinous  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  and  by  the  presence 
of  teeth  on  the  ectopterygoids. 

CENTRARCHUS  MACROPTERUS   (LACEPEDE) 
ROUND  SUNFISH;  FLIER 

(MAP  LXXII) 

LacSpSde,  1802,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  Ill,  447   (Labrus). 

J.  &  G.,  463;   M.  V.,  114;   B.(  I,  8;    J.  &  E.,  I,  988;   N.,  37   (irideus);   J.,  47   (irideus); 
P.,  70;  L.,  23;  F.  P.,  I.  3,  56  (irideus). 

Length  4  inches  (occasionally  6) ;  body  ovate,  strongly  compressed,  pro- 
file angled  at  nape;  depth  1.9  to  2.1  in  length;  greatest  width  more  than  3  in 
greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1  to  1.2  in  its  length.  Color  green, 
with  series  of  dark  brown  spots  on  sides  below  lateral  line,  forming  inter- 
rupted longitudinal  lines;  a  dark  spot  below  eye;  soft  dorsal  and  anal  reticu- 
lated; young  with  a  black  ocellus  at  base  of  soft  dorsal.  Head  rather  small, 
2.7  to  3.1  in  length;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.1  in  its  length;  interorbital  space 


242 


FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 


2.9  to  3.5,  concave;  eye  3.3  to  4;  nose  pointed,  scarcely  as  long  as  eye,  4  to 

4.7  in  head;  mouth  small,  oblique,  maxillary  nearly  to  middle  of  orbit,  2.5  to 

2.8  in  head;  opercular  flap  broad  and  thin,  not  prolonged;  gill-rakers  X  -f-  30. 
setiform.    Dorsal  XI  or  XII  (or  rarely  XIII),  12-14,  its  longest  spine  about 
2  in  head;  length  of  dorsal  about  1.2  to  1.3  times  length  of  anal;  caudal  lunate; 
anal  VII  or  VIII  (occasionally  VI),  13-15;  ventrals  past  fourth  anal  spine; 
pectorals  to  7th  or  8th  anal  spine,  1  to  1.2  in  head.    Scales  6  or  7,  41-43,  13 
or  14;  lateral  line  complete;  scales  on  cheeks  in  6  or  7  rows. 


This  little  fish,  found  by  us  only  in  extreme  southern  Illinois 
from  Hamilton  county  southward,  is  a  distinctly  southern 
species,  occurring  in  lowland  streams  and  bayous  of  the  lower 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  in  the  south  Atlantic  region  from 
Florida  to  Virginia.  In  this  state  we  have  taken  it  in  only 
thirteen  collections,  all  from  creeks  and  sloughs  tributary  to  the 
Little  Wabash,  the  Big  Muddy,  and  the  Cache. 

The  species  is  said  by  Jordan  to  reach  a  length  of  six  inches. 
Owing  to  its  small  size  and  comparative  scarcity,  except  here  and 
there  in  the  South,  it  is  of  no  commercial  importance. 


GENUS  AMBLOPLITES  RAFINESQUE 

ROCK   BASS 

Body  oblong,  moderately  elevated,  compressed,  but  robust;  opercle 
ending  in  two  flat  points;  preopercle  serrate  at  its  angle;  mouth  large;  sup- 
plemental maxillary  well  developed;  teeth  (Fig.  56)  on  vomer,  palatines, 
tongue,  entopterygoids,  and  ectopterygoids,  a  single  patch  on  the  tongue 
(Fig.  57),  pharyngeal  teeth  sharp;  gill-rakers  rather  long  and  strong,  dentate, 
less  than  10  in  number;  dorsal  spines  10 or  11;  anal  spines  normally  6;  caudal 
emarginate;  scales  somewhat  ctenoid.  Central,  eastern,  and  southern  United 
States,  and  Canada;  one  species. 


AMBLOPLITES — ROCK   BASS  243 

AMBLOPUTES  RUPESTRIS   (RAFINESQUE) 
ROCK  BASS;  REDEYE:  GOGGLE-EYE 

(MAP  LXXIII) 

Raflnesque,  1817,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  120   (Bodianus). 

J.  &  G.,  466;    M.  V.,  115;    B.,  I,  10;    J.   &  E.,  I,  990;   N.,  37;   J.,  44;    F.,  69;    F.  F.,  I. 
3,  44;   L.,  23. 

Length  8  to  10  inches;  body  oblong,  rather  robust  and  only  moderately 
compressed;  profile  scarcely  angled  at  nape;  depth  2.2  to  2.5;  greatest  width 
about  2  in  greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.12  to  1.20  in  its  length. 
Color  of  upper  parts  olive,  with  black  mottlings  and  brassy  reflections;  each 
scale  of  sides  with  a  central  squarish  black  spot  on  band,  these  forming 
longitudinal  stripes  traversing  length  of  fish,  being  most  prominent  below 
the  lateral  line;  belly  bluish  white  with  darker  punctulations,  forming  a  spot 
on  each  scale;  breast  specked  with  fine  black  dots  and  with  some  blue,  green, 
or  reddish;  cheeks  and  opercles  with  brassy  luster;  a  dark  opercular  spot; 
iris  maroon  before  and  behind  pupil,  plum-colored  above  and  below,  and 
edged  with  gold;  median  fins  amber  with  brown  mottlings  (in  handsome 
irregular  bars)  and  faint  edgings  of  black;  ventrals  opaque  whitish  with 
brown  specks;  pectorals  transparent  amber,  dusky  in  males;  young  irregu- 
larly barred  and  blotched  with  black.  Head  rather  large,  2.6  to  2.8.  the  pro- 
file little  angled  above  eye;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.13  in  its  length;  interor- 
bital  space  3.7  to  4.3  (usually  under  4);  eye  3.5  to  4;  nose  3.4  to  4.1;  mouth 
large,  oblique,  maxillary  past  middle  of  orbit,  2.1  to  2.4  in  head:  a  single 
patch  of  teeth  on  tongue;  operculum  emarginate,  the  flap  not  prolonged; 
gill-rakers  few.  7  to  10,  rather  long,  strong,  and  stiff.  Dorsal  XI  (occasionally 
XII),  10-12  (usually  10).  rather  long  and  low,  its  longest  spine 3. 25 to 3. 5 in 
head;  length  of  base  of  dorsal  about  1.4  times  length  of  anal;  caudal  emar- 
ginate: anal  VI,  10-11;  ventrals  to  vent  or  somewhat  past  it,  sometimes 
nearly  to  first  anal  spine  in  males;  pectorals  to  first  anal  spine,  1.8  to  2  in 
head.  Scales  6  or  7,  sometimes  8,  39-43,  11  or  12  (or  13) ;  lateral  line  usually 
complete;  scales  on  cheeks  in  7  or  8  rows. 

This  large  and  handsome  member  of  the  sunfish  family 
reaches  a  length  of  a  foot  and  a  weight  of  a  pound  to  a  pound 
and  a  half,  although  its  average  weight  probably  does  not  exceed 
half  a  pound.  It  is,  with  us,  mainly  a  northern  species,  having 
been  taken  from  but  four  localities  in  southern  Illinois,  and  not 
at  all  in  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation.  This  limitation  of  its 
range  is  accounted  for  by  its  decided  preference  for  clear  rocky 
streams,  its  coefficient  for  swift  water  (3.66)  being  the  largest 
in  our  list  of  sunfishes.  It  has  occurred  to  us  most  abundantly 
in  rivers  of  medium  size  (2.96),  and  about  half  as  frequently 
in  creeks  (1.44),  its  frequencies  in  other  situations  being  com- 
paratively insignificant.  This  peculiarity  of  local  preference 
tends  to  separate  if  from  the  other  members  of  its  family  gener- 
ally, with  the  exception  of  the  small-mouthed  black  bass, 


244  FISHES   OF    ILLINOIS 

with  which  it  is  found  more  frequently  in  company  than  are 
any  other  two  species  of  this  entire  family. 

It  has  been  taken,  to  the  northward,  from  Lakes  Huron, 
Erie  and  Ontario,  from  the  St.  Lawrence  River  and  Lake- 
Champlain,  and  from  northwestern  streams  and  lakes  as  far 
as  Minnesota  and  South  Dakota.  It  ranges  southward  to  the 
James  and  the  Chattaoochee  rivers  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  to 
the  Alabama  and  the  Tombigbee  in  the  Gulf  district,  and  west- 
ward to  the  Des  Moines  and  Kansas  rivers.  It  is  said  by  Jordan 
and  Evermann  to  occur  also  in  Louisiana  and  in  Texas. 

According  to  Dr.  Jordan,  it  spawns  in  spring,  constructing 
a  nest  on  a  gravel  bed  where  the  water  is  moderately  swift,  or 
on  a  bar  if  in  a  lake,  the  parent  fish  defending  the  nest  with 
great  vigor.  Spent  females  were  taken  by  us  at  Havana  June  26. 

"This  species,"  says  Jordan,  "is  pre-eminently  a  boy's 
fish,  though  it  is  by  no  means  despised  by  anglers  of  maturer 
years.  *  *  *  *  As  a  game-fish  it  is  rather  disappointing. 
It  takes  the  hook  with  vim  and  energy,  and  begins  a  most 
vigorous  fight  which,  however,  it  usually  fails  to  keep  up.  It 
can  usually  be  caught  at  any  season  and  at  any  time  of  day; 
good  fishing  may  be  had  even  at  night.  Any  kind  of  bait  may 
be  used,  but  small  minnows,  white  grubs,  and  angleworms  are 
best.  It  will  take  the  trolling  spoon  quite  readily,  and  the 
spinner  and  the  bucktail  also  are  successful  lures.  Minnows 
may  be  used  either  in  still-fishing  or  in  trolling.  During  the 
summer  grasshoppers  are  a  good  bait,  and  pieces  of  fresh-water 
mussel  or  yellow  perch  are  excellent.  In  the  fall  still-fishing  with 
small  minnows  usually  meets  with  success.  Casting  with  the 
artificial  fly  is  not  a  common  method  for  catching  the  rock  bass, 
yet  we  have  had  many  good  rises  and  have  taken  some  fine  ex- 
amples in  that  way;  we  have  also  taken  it  on  the  artificial  frog. 
Small  crawfish  also  are  a  tempting  bait." 

As  a  pan-fish  it  is  above  the  average  but  not  among  the 
best,  its  flesh  being  somewhat  soft  and  having  a  muddy  flavor. 
The  fish  is  taken  in  rather  cool  clear  water. 

It  feeds,  so  far  as  we  know,  mainly  on  insects  and  small 
crustaceans;  with  a  moderate  allowance  of  fishes.  Its  food, 
however,  has  not  been  sufficiently  studied  to  give  us  a  fair 
average  for  the  species. 

The  rock  bass  has  been  used  to. some  extent  successfully  as 
a  fish  for  artificial  ponds,  and  it  has  been  successfully  introduced 
into  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  states. 


CH^NOBRYTTUS — WARMOUTH    BASS  245 

GENUS  CH/ENOBRYTTUS  GILL 

WARMOUTH   BASS 

This  genus  has  the  form  and  dentition  of  Ambloplites,  with  the  opercle 
convex  at  the  angle  as  in  Lepomis,  not  ending  in  two  points;  preopercle  entire; 
mouth  large;  a  supplemental  maxillary  present;  dorsal  spines  10  and  anal 
spines  3,  as  in  Lepomis;  caudal  emarginate;  scales  weakly  ctenoid.  United 
States,  east  of  the  Rockies;  one  species. 


FIG.  59 
CH^NOBRYTTUS  GULOSUS   (CuviER  AND  VALENCIENNES) 

WARMOUTH   BASS 
(MAP  LXXIV) 

Cuvier  &  Valenciennes,  1829,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  Ill,  498  (Pomotis). 
J.  &  G.,  468;   M.  V.,  115;   B.,  I,  13;   J.  &  E.,  I,  992;    N.,  37;   J.,  45;   F.,  69;    F.  F.,  I. 
3,  44;  L,.,  23. 

Length  6  to  8  inches;  body  robust,  elongate,  becoming  much  deeper 
with  age;  profile  only  slightly  angled  at  nape;  depth  2  to  2.6;  greatest  width 
2  to  2.5  in  greatest  depth;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  1.2  to  1.6  in  its  length. 
Color  olivaceous  to  grayish,  clouded,  mottled,  and  sometimes  indistinctly 
barred,  with  slate  to  bluish  black;  sides  with  golden  and  emerald  reflections, 
producing  over  the  ground  colors  a  rich  golden  brown  effect;  breast  and  belly 
greenish  to  j^ellowish,  sprinkled  with  dark  dots  and  finely  dusted  with  gold 
or  emerald;  four  or  five  light  grayish  to  lavender  streaks  (sometimes  reddish) 
running  from  eye  to  back  of  opercle;  snout,  cheeks,  and  opercles  sprinkled 
with  dusky  and  finely  punctulate  with  gold;  forehead  a  moldy  velvety-slate, 
characteristic  of  this  fish;  bony  portion  of  opercular  flap  very  dark,  brownish 
in  front  to  bluish  behind,  the  membranous  portion  coppery  above  to  lavender 
below;  a  narrow  line  of  crimson  about  pupil; rest  of  iris  crimson  to  purplish 
with  streaks  of  emerald  above  and  below;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  light  grayish  to 


246  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

olive,  with  darker  mottlings,  the  spots  forming  irregular  rows.  Head  rather 
large,  2.4  to  2.6;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.1  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  3.9 
to  4.3;  eye  4  to  5;  nose  longer  than  eye,  3.3  to  4.4;  mouth  very  large,  maxillary 
nearly  to  back  of  orbit,  2.2  to  2.4  in  head;  operculum  prolonged  backward 
and  rounded  behind  as  in  Lepomis  and  Eupomotis,  the  membranous  flap 
narrow;  gill-rakers  8  or  9  +  rudiments,  rather  long  and  stiff.  Dorsal  X 
(occasionally  IX  or  XI),  9  or  10  (or  11);  long  and  low,  longest  spine  3.5  to 
4  in  head;  base  of  dorsal  twice  length  base  of  anal;  caudal  lunate;  anal  III, 
8-10;  ventrals  short  of  vent  in  females,  to  vent  in  males;  pectorals  short  of 
front  of  anal,  1.5  to  1.8  in  head.  Scales  6  or  7,  39-43,  11  or  12  (occasionally 
13);  lateral  line  usually  complete;  6  to  8  rows  of  scales  on  cheeks. 

The  warmouth  is  a  heavy,  wide-mouthed,  red-eyed  sunfish, 
dark  and  mottled  like  the  rock  bass,  but  with  less  of  bronze  or 
other  showy  color.  This  fish,  the  rock  bass,  and  the  green  sun- 
fish  form  a  group  of  abundant  Illinois  species,  all  with  large 
mouths,  and  all  feeding  almost  wholly  on  fishes  and  insects. 
Notwithstanding  this  similarity  of  food,  they  seem  to  have 
learned  to  inhabit  the  same  area  without  serious  mutual  com- 
petition by  establishing  different  relations  to  their  environment. 
The  rock  bass,  as  already  shown,  lives  by  preference  in  clear 
waters  flowing  over  a  rock  bottom,  while  the  present  species  is 
the  most  of  a  mud  lover  of  all  of  our  sunfishes,  as  shown  by  its 
preference  for  a  muddy  bottom,  represented  in  our  collections 
by  the  surprising  coefficient  of  7.33.  Other  factors  of  this 
adjustment  will  be  considered  in  the  discussion  of  the  green 
sunfish. 

The  warmouth  is  essentially  a  species  of  lakes  and  ponds  and 
the  smaller  rivers,  occurring  also,  but  less  generally,  in  creeks 
and  in  rivers  of  the  largest  class.  It  is  distributed  throughout 
the  state — in  the  southern  section  mainly  in  the  smaller  streams, 
but  in  the  northern  half  chiefly  along  the  Illinois  River.  It  is 
abundant  in  the  glacial  lakes  of  northeastern  Illinois,  and  has 
come  to  us  also  from  Lake  Michigan.  In  the  southern  part  of 
the  state  it  is  common  in  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  to  an 
extent  to  indicate  a  deliberate  preference  for  muddy  water  over 
pure.  It  is  seemingly  a  southern  species  by  preference  in  this 
state,  the  frequency  ratios  for  the  three  sections. being  .44,  .78, 
and  1.78,  from  north  to  south. 

Lakes  Michigan  and  Erie  seem  to  mark  its  most  northerly 
distribution,  and  from  these  it  is  found  to  the  Florida  peninsula 
on  the  southeast,  and  to  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  Kansas  on  the 
south  and  west.  It  is  said  to  be  common  in  South  Carolina,  but 
is  most  abundant  west  of  the  Alleghanies.  It  is  everywhere  a 


LEPOMIS — SUNFISHES  247 

fish  of  the  bayous,  mud-bottomed  ponds  and  lakes,  and  low- 
land streams. 

It  reaches  a  length  of  about  10  inches,  and  is  a  fair  angler's 
fish,  in  that  respect  something  like  the  rock  bass.  Owing  to  the 
character  of  the  water  from  which  it  is  most  frequently  taken, 
its  flesh  is  apt  to  taste  of  mud,  and  it  is  not  abundant  enough 
on  commercial  fishing  grounds  to  make  it  a  species  of  any  con- 
siderable importance. 

Nearly  half  the  food  of  half  a  dozen  specimens  examined  by 
us  many  years  ago  was  found  to  consist  of  fishes,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  insects — mostly  of  water-bugs  and  larvae  of  May-flies, 
with  which,  however,  some  terrestrial  insects  were  commingled. 

GENUS  LEPOMIS  RAFINESQUE 

SUNFISHES 

Body  oblong,  deep  and  compressed;  operculum  ending  behind  in  a  con- 
vex bony  or  osseo-membranous  process  or  flap;  preoperculum  entire;  mouth 
large  or  small;  supplemental  ma'xillary  developed  in  large-mouthed  forms; 
teeth  on  vomer  and  usually  on  palatines;  none  on  tongue  or  pterygoids;  lower 
pharyngeal  teeth  conical,  more  or  less  acute,  the  bones  narrow  and  weak, 
flattened  or  hollowed  out  underneath,  and  with  the  outer  margin  straight  or 
concave,  the  width  of  the  toothed  portion  being  about  3  in  its  length;  gill- 
rakers  various,  never  very  long;  dorsal  spines  10;  anal  spines  3;  caudal  emar- 
ginate. 

Fresh  waters  of  the  eastern  United  States,  Canada,  and 
Mexico;  species  about  15;  8  species  found  in  Illinois. 

The  genus  Lepomis,  as  here  understood,  includes  Apomotis  of 
various  authors.  The  forms  that  have  been  known  under  these 
two  names  agree  in  their  pharyngeal  dentition,*  which  is  re- 
markably different  from  that  of  the  genus  Eupomotis  (see  Fig. 
64-67) .  The  fact  that  the  opercular  flap  is  usually  either  en- 
tirely black  or  black  with  a  definite  border  above,  behind,  and 
below,  serves  as  a  useful  distinction  of  the  species  of  this  genus 
from  the  single  commonly  distributed  species  of  Eupomotis 
(E.  gibbosus),  in  which  there  is  always  a  conspicuous  roundish 
spot  of  red  at  the  lower  posterior  corner  of  the  opercular  flap. 

The  species  of  this  genus  and  the  next  constitute  the  true 
sunfishes,  as  distinguished  from  the  crappies,  rock  bass,  war- 
mouths,  and  black  bass.  In  the  southern  half  of  the  state,  where 

*  We  have  not  found  the  ''complete  gradation  in  the  character  of  pharyngeals  between 
Lepomis  *  *  *  an(j  Eupomotis  both  as  to  the  width  and  form  of  the  bones  themselves 
and  the  form  of  the  teeth"  that  was  described  by  McKay  (Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  1881  p.  88). 
(See  Richardson  1904  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.  Vol.  VII.,  pp.  27-32.) 


248  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

the  yellow  perch  (Percd)  is  practically  unknown,  the  name  of 
perch  is  commonly  given  to  these  sunfishes — most  frequently, 
however,  under  the  dialectic  form  of  "pearch." 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  LEPOMIS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Black  opercular  spot  borne  by  the  stiff  toony  upper  posterior  angle   of  the 

operculum,  which  is  plainly  distinguished  from  a  flexible  (fleshy  or  mem- 
branous) border  of  different  (usually  lighter)  color.  (Fig.  60.) 

b.  Mouth  large  and  cheek  not  very  deep,  the  maxillary  %  to  %  longer  than  the 

distance  from  the  lower  margin  of  the  orbit  to  the  lower  posterior  corner 
of  the  preopercle;  in  life  with  blue  spots  and  vertical  bars  of  dusky;  mar- 
gin of  ear-flap  coppery  to  purplish;  cheeks  with  wavy  blue  lines,  .cyanellus. 
bb.  Mouth  smaller  and  cheek  deeper,  maxillary  about  equal  to  or  less  than  dis- 
tance from  lower  margin  of  orbit  to  lower  posterior  corner  of  preopercle. 

c.  Sides  without  longitudinal  rows  of  spots  formed  toy  differently  colored  squar- 

ish areas  (bronze  or  purplish  in  life)  at  centers  of  scales. 

d.  Gill-rakers  long,  the  longest  %  diameter  of  eye;  not  mottled. 

e.  Scales  41   to  49   in  lateral  line;    margin  of  ear-flap  pale   blue  to  pinkish   in 

life     •  • ischyrus. 

ee.  Scales  32  to  37  in  lateral  line;  in  life  green,  barred  with  darker;  small  coffee- 
colored  specks  on  body  and  fins symmetricus. 

dd.  Gill-rakers  shorter,  the  longest  scarcely  more  than  %  diameter  of  eye,  usu- 
ally less;  mottled,  the  appearance  being  much  as  in  the  pumkinseed 
sunflsh  (Eupotnotis  gibbosus) ',  some  red  or  coppery  on  ear-flap  behind.... 

% euryorus. 

cc.  Many  scales  of  sides  with  squarish  light-colored  areas  (bronze  or  purplish  in 
life),  these  forming  more  or  less  distinct  longitudinal  rows;  rest  of  body 

dusky   olive    miniatus. 

aa.     Portion  of  opercular  flap  bearing  black  spot  very  thin  and  flexible. 

f.  Bony  portion  of  operculum  terminating  in  front  of  the  middle  of  the  black 

opercular  spot,  which  is  confined  chiefly  to  the  broad  pale  (pinkish  in  life) 
membranous  (not  osseous)  border;  in  life  olive  with  orange  spots;  cheeks 
and  opercles  with  wavy  broken  lines  of  rusty  orange;  no  black  blotch  at 

base  of  last  dorsal  rays.     (Fig.  63) humilis. 

ff.  Bony  portion  of  operculum  continued  backward  as  a  thin  and  flexible 
osseo-membranous  flap,  which  is  all  or  nearly  all  black,  the  longitudinal 
bone-striae  being  visible  through  its  ensheathing  epidermis.  (Fig.  62.) 

g.  Gill-rakers  short  and  weak,  their  length  not  over  %  eye;  no  black  spot  at  base 

of  last  dorsal  rays;   olive  with  blue  and  orange  spots  and  wavy  vertical 

streaks  of  emerald;    cheeks  with  wavy  lines  of  emerald megalotis. 

gg.  Gill-rakers  rather  long  and  slender,  their  length  nearly  %  of  eye;  a  black  blotch 
at  base  of  last  dorsal  rays;  life-color  olive,  with  purplish  luster,  .pallidus. 

LEPOMIS  CYANELLUS  EAFINESQUE 

BLUE-SPOTTED    SUNFISH;    GREEN    SUNFISH 
(PL  ,  p.  249) 

Raflnesque,  1819,  Jour,  de  Physique,  420. 

J.  &  G.,  473;    M.  V.,  117;    B.,  I,  21    (Apomotis);    J.  &  E.,   I.   996;    N.,   37    (Telipomis 

cyanellus  and  T.  microps);    J.,   45    (Apomotis);    F.  F.,   I.   3,   47    (Apomotis);    F., 

69;  L.,  25  (Apomotis);   R.,  27-32. 

Length  4  to  7  inches;  body  elongate,  robust,  becoming  somewhat  shorter 
and  deeper  with  age;  dorsal  outline  rather  more  curved  than  ventral;  depth 
2.1  to  2.5  in  length,  usually  about  2.2.  Color  olivaceous,  taking  on  a  yellow- 
ish or  coppery  tinge  below;  each  scale  with  a  spot  of  emerald-green,  the  spots 


LEPOMIS — SUNFISHES 


249 


forming  more  or  less  distinct  rows,  most  evident  on  the  caudal  peduncle; 

sides  marked  with  seven  or  eight  vertical  bars  of  dusky,  gradually  fading 

backward;  two  spots  of  emerald-green  in  front  of  eye  and  one  just  behind  it; 

three  or  four  wavy  lines  of  same  color  on  cheek  below  eye,  two  or  three  of 

them  continued  backward  across  opercle;  iris  red;  bony  portion  of  gill-flap 

very  dark  green  to  blackish,  with  posterior  edging  of  darker;  membranous 

margin  of  flap  coppery  to  purplish,  the  color  strongest  on  lower  posterior 

portion;  fins  all  dusky,  pectorals  least  so;  soft  dorsal  and  anal  with  large  black 

blotch  at  base  of  last  rays,  the  former  with  a  very  narrow  outer  margin  of 

whitish;  anal  very  dark  at  base,  paler  outward,  and  edged  below  with  rich 

yellow  or  orange;  ventrals  dusky  near  base,  paler  behind.    Head  2.4  to  3  in 

length,  broad  and  flat  above;  the  profile  rather  long  and  usually  quite  straight, 

becoming  slightly  angled  above  eye  in  old  specimens;  eye  3.8  to  5.2  in  head, 

usually  about  5  in  adults;  mouth  very  large, 

lower  jaw  projecting  beyond  upper;  maxillary 

extending  to  middle  of  orbit,  2  to  2.5  in  head; 

supplemental  maxillary  well  developed;  teeth 

present    on    vomers    and    palatines;    lower 

pharyngeals    narrow    but    strong,    the    teeth 

long  and  bluntly  acuminate;  flexible  margin 

of  opercular  flap   fleshy,   broad  behind   and 

below,  narrower  above;  gill-rakers  long  and 

stiff,   the  longest  fully   ££  diameter  of  eye. 

Dorsal  IX  or  X,  10  to  12,  spinous  less  than 

half  the  height  of  soft  portion;  longest  dorsal 

spine  3  to  4.2  in  head,  usually  about  4  in 

adults;  anal  III,  9  or  10,  the  spines  short  and 

strong;  pectorals  short,  rounded  behind,   1.5 

to  1.7  in  head;  ventrals  reaching  to  or  a  little 

past  vent,  never  to  first  anal  spines.    Scales  6 

or  7,  45-49,  15  or  16;  those  on  cheeks  in  7  to 

10  rows. 


FIG. 


Opercular  flaps  of  Lepomis  cy- 
anellus,  one  figure  entire,  the 
other  showing  flap  denuded 
of  epidermis  and  fleshy  or  mem- 
branous border. 


This  beautiful  little  sunfish  is  much 
the  commonest  of  its  family  in  our 
smaller  streams,  and  is,  indeed,  often  almost  the  sole  sunfish 
product  of  the  net  in  the  prairie  creeks.  Contrasting  with  the 
warmouth,  it  is  most  abundant  in  creeks  (1.56),  and  is  next 
so  in  the  smaller  rivers  (.76).  In  the  larger  rivers  and  in  the 
lowland  lakes  it  occurs  sparingly,  but  it  has  not  been  taken  by 
us  at  all  from  the  clear  upland  lakes  of  the  glacial  deposits,  nor 
from  any  of  the  waters  of  the  Michigan  drainage.  It  has  oc- 
curred in  no  less  than  315  of  our  collections;  that  is,  in  about 
a  fifth  of  the  whole  number  made.  Its  preference  is  for  a  quiet 
current,  in  which  respect  it  agrees  with  the  next  two  species. 
It  is  evidently  not  afraid  of  mud  as  is  shown  by  its  general 
distribution  over  the  lower  glaciation  of  southern  Illinois. 

—25  F 


250  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

While  the  warmouth  and  the  rock  bass  avoid  each  other  in 
great  measure  by  their  strikingly  different  relations  to  water 
and  bottom,  the  former  being  a  mud-loving  fish  and  the  latter 
found  mainly  in  clear  rocky  waters,  the  green  sunfish  avoids  the 
other  two  by  its  strong  preference  for  the  smaller  streams,  into 
which  they  enter  much  less  freely.  The  advantage  of  this 
avoidance  of  each  other's  company  is  evident  when  we  take  into 
account  the  similar  food  habits  of  these  three  species — all 
neglecting  mollusks  and  crustaceans  and  depending  for  food  on 
fishes  and  insects.  Owing,  however,  to  their  different  ecological 
and  local  distribution,  their  coefficients  of  association  are  much 
below  the  average  for  their  family — 1.17  for  the  rock  bass  and 
the  warmouth,  1.51  for  the  rock  bass  and  the  green  sunfish, 
and  1.19  for  the  green  sunfish  and  the  warmouth — or  a  general 
average  of  1.29  for  the  group,  to  be  compared  with  a  general 
family  average  of  1.86. 

This  sunfish  is,  according  to  our  data,  about  twice  as  abun- 
dant in  southern  Illinois  as  in  either  central  or  northern,  our 
frequency  ratio  for  the  first  division  being  1.5,  and  .71  and  .78 
for  the  other  two.  In  general  range  it  is  a  fish  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  distributed  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  Mexico,  and  occur- 
ring everywhere  in  small  sluggish  brooks.  It  is  not  reported 
from  Canada  and  is  not  found  east  of  the  Alleghanies. 

It  is  an  excellent  pan-fish,  although  small,  weighing  usually 
not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  pound.  It  takes  the  hook  readily 
with  worm  bait,  and  is  a  sprightly  little  fighter  for  so  smalla 
species.  The  food  of  the  species,  as  illustrated  by  that  of  eight 
specimens,  was  more  than  a  third  fishes,  and  the  remainder 
insects  and  crawfishes. 

It  was  found  by  Mr.  Surface  spawning  at  Meredosia  as  late 
as  August  14,  1899. 

LEPOMIS  ISCHYRUS   (JORDAN  &  NELSON) 

Jordan  &  Nelson,  1877,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  X,  25  (Lepiopomus). 

J.  &  G.,  474;  M.  V.,  117;  B.,  I,  22  (?  Apomotis  cyanellus  [part]);  J.  &  E.,  I,  997 
(Apomotis);  N.,  37  (Icthelis  aquilensis);  J.,  45  (Lepiopomis);  F.,  68;  L.,  24  (Apo- 
motis cyanellus);  R.,  27-32. 

Length  5  to  7  inches;  robust  and  rather  elongate,  the  back  considerably 
elevated,  the  form  resembling  that  of  Lepomis  pallidus;  depth  ^  to  2  in 
length.  Life  colors  not  known;  in  spirits  dusky  olive  with  mo  tilings  of  orange 
and  blue;  faint  blue  bands  on  cheeks;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  with  dusky  spot 
on  last  rays;  belly  and  lower  fins  coppery  yellow.  Head  2.6  to  2.7  in  length, 
its  top  short  and  much  flattened;  profile  conspicuously  angled  above  eye;  eye 


LEPOMIS — SUNFISHES  25T 

small,  4.7  to  5  in  head;  mouth  large,  the  lower  jaw  slightly  longer  than  the 
upper;  maxillary  extending  to  middle  of  eye,  2.5  to  3  in  head;  a  well-de- 
veloped supplemental  maxillary  bone;  teeth  on  palatines;  lower  pharyngeals 
narrow  but  strong,  the  teeth  heavy  and  bluntly  pointed,  as  in  L.  cyanellus; 
flexible  margin  of  opercular  flap  broad  and  rather  thick  and  fleshy;  gill- 
rakers  long,  stiff,  and  rough,  y^  diameter  of  eye.  Dorsal  X  or  XI,  12;  the 
spines  strong  and  low,  the  longest  scarcely  reaching  from  snout  to  middle  of 
orbit,  3.1  to  3.4  in  head;  anal  III,  9  or  10;  pectorals  short,  1.4  to  1.7  in  head; 
ventrals  exceeding  vent,  not  reaching  anal.  Scales  7  or  8,  43-49,  14  or  15; 
6  or  7  rows  on  cheek. 

Described  in  1877  from  a  single  specimen,  taken  in  the 
Illinois  River,  the  exact  locality  unknown.  Not  again  taken 
until  1899,  when  two  excellent  adult  specimens  were  obtained 
from  the  Illinois  River  at  Meredosia.  Not  known  outside  of 
Illinois.  Here  described  from  3  specimens,  of  which  one  is 
the  original  type. 

LEPOMIS  SYMMETRICUS  FOEBES 

Forbes,  1883,  Jordan  and  Gilbert's  Synopsis,  473. 

B.,  I,  21  (Apomotis);   J.  &  E.,  I,  998   (Apomotis) ;   F.,  68;   L.,  24  (Apomotis) ;   R.,  33. 

Length  2J/£  inches;  body  robust,  rather  short  and  deep;  dorsal  and 
ventral  outlines  about  equally  curved,  giving  the  fish  a  distinctively  sym- 
metrical appearance;  profile  almost  straight,  the  angle  at  nape  usually  in- 
appreciable; depth  1.9  to  2  in  length.  Color  in  life  green,  with  darker  bars;  in 
spirits  light  to  darker  brown;  each  scale  with  a  basal  spot  of  darker,  the 
spots  appearing  as  indistinct  rows  from  before  backward,  12  or  13  in  number; 
body  and  fins  with  numerous  small  coffee-colored  specks;  tips  of  ventrals 
dusky;  a  black  ocellated  spot  at  base  of  last  dorsal  rays  in  young  specimens. 
Head  2.7  to  2.8  in  length;  eye  2.8  to  3.3  in  head;  mouth  moderate,  maxillary 
reaching  to  middle  of  orbit,  2.4  to  2.6  in  head;  a  well-developed  supple- 
mental maxillary  bone;  teeth  on  vomers  and  palatines;  lower  pharyngeals 
narrow,  as  in  other  species  of  Lepomis,  the  teeth  conical,  but  rather  heavy 
and  bluntly  pointed;  operculum  short,  very  broadly  rounded  behind,  its 
membranous  margin  not  very  broad;  gill-rakers  rather  long  and  slender, 
but  firm,  the  longest  more  than  ^  diameter  of  eye.  Dorsal  IX  or  X,  10  or 
11;  the  spines  moderate,  not  very  short,  the  longest  reaching  from  snout  to 
pupil,  2  to  2.5  in  head;  anal  III,  9  or  10;  pectorals  1.1  to  1.3  in  head;  ventrals 
short,  hardly  exceeding  vent.  Scales  large,  5  or  6,  32  to  37,  12  to  14;  lateral 
line  incomplete;  4  or  5  rows  of  scales  on  cheeks. 

This  symmetrical  little  species  is  rather  rare  in  Illinois, 
which  is  the  northern  boundary  of  its  area  of  distribution.  It 
has  been  taken  by  us,  in  fact,  but  nine  times,  all  but  two  of  the 
collections — made  from  the  Illinois  River  at  Pekin — coming 
from  localities  in  extreme  southern  Illinois,  as  follows:  Ander- 
son's branch  and  Running  Lake  in  Union  county;  and  Drew 


252  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

pond,  a  pond  near  Hawthorne,  and  the  Little  Wabash  River  in 
White  county.  Elsewhere  it  is  reported  from  the  Mississippi 
Valley  southward  as  far  as  New  Orleans,  and  Houston,  Texas. 
Jordan  and  Evermann  say  that  it  is  not  infrequent  in  the  lower 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  that  in  Texas  it  is  a  common  pan-fish. 


FIG.  61 

LEPOMIS  EURYORUS  McKAY 

McKay,  1881,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  89. 

J.   &  G.,  481;    M.  V.,  119;    B.t  I,   24   (?   Lepomis   auritus   [part]);    J.   &   E.,   I,   1008 
(Eupomotis);  R.,  32. 

Length  6  to  8  inches;  body  rather  robust  and  somewhat  elongate;  depth 
2  to  2.3  in  length.  Color  in  life  not  very  well  known;  in  spirits  dusky  olive 
mottled  with  darker,  the  general  appearance  very  much  as  in  E.  gibbosus; 
fin-membranes  dusky,  darker  tessellations  behind  on  soft  dorsal  and  anal 
and  near  base  of  caudal;  opercular  spot  black,  the  margin  paler,  with  some 
red  or  coppery  behind  in  life.  Head  2.6  to  2.9  in  length;  eye  3.8  to  4.3  in 
head;  mouth  large,  oblique,  maxillary  reaching  considerably  past  front  of 
orbit,  2.6  to  2.9  in  head;  jaws  about  equal;  supplemental  maxillary  well 
developed;  teeth  on  vomers  and  palatines;  lower  pharyngeals  narrow,  but 
strong,  teeth  conical,  heavy  and  bluntly  pointed;  opercle  produced  backward, 
sharply  rounded  posteriorly,  the  margin  wide;  gill-rakers  well  developed, 
the  longest  %  diameter  of  eye,  rather  stiff  and  rough.  Dorsal  X,  11  or  12; 
the  spines  low,  slightly  longer  than  from  snout  to  eye  in  young  specimens, 
2.2  to  2.7  in  head;  anal  III,  9  or  10;  pectorals  short,  1.3  to  1.4  in  head;  ven- 
trals  reaching  slightly  past  vent.  Scales  6  or  7,  43-45,  14  or  15;  those  on 
cheeks  small,  in  6  to  8  rows. 

One  of  the  rarest  of  our  sunfishes,  and  known  in  this  state 
only  by  reason  of  two  young  specimens  taken  by  us  in  Crooked 
creek,  near  La  Harpe,  Hancock  county,  in  1900.  It  was  origi- 
nally described  from  the  lower  part  of  Lake  Huron.  It  has  been 
taken  sparingly  in  northern  Indiana  and  Ohio,  in  Minnesota, 


LEPOMIS — SUNFISHES  253 

and  in  southern  Michigan.     Nothing  is  on  record  concerning 
its  habits  or  its  life  history. 

LEPOMIS  MINIATUS  JOBDAN 

(MAP  LXXV) 

Jordan,  1877,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  X,  26. 

J.  &  G.,  476;   F.  F.,  II.  2,  135  (garmani);   M.  V.,  119   (garmani);   B.,  I,  24  (auritus 
[part]),  27  (garmani);  J.  &  E.,  I,  1002  (also  garmani);  L.,  24  (garmani). 

Length  4  inches;  body  rather  short  and  deep,  usually  more  or  less 
regularly  elliptical;  variously  robust  or  rather  thin;  depth  1.8  to  2  in  length, 
usually  about  2  in  adults.  Color  dark  olive;  sides  below  lateral  line  striped 
with  rows  of  bronze  or  purplish  spots,  the  rows  about  7  or  8  in  number;  under 
parts  light,  with  some  brassy  luster;  upper  part  of  head  almost  black;  cheeks 
dark  bluish  green;  ear-flap  black,  its  upper  and  lower  margin  silvery,  some- 
times a  posterior  edging  of  pale;  outer  third  of  soft  dorsal  and  anal  reddish 
brown  with  narrow  edging  of  paler;  caudal  reddish  behind,  with  faint  pale 
edging;  iris  red  before  and  behind  pupil.  Head  2.9  to  3.1  in  length;  profile 
usually  with  a  more  or  less  decided  depression  at  nape,  sometimes  almost 
straight;  eye  3.9  to  4.3  in  head;  mouth  smaller  than  in  preceding  species, 
maxillary  2.5  to  3  in  head,  usually  about  2.7  reaching  but  a  little  past  front 
of  orbit;  a  small  supplemental  maxillary  bone;  teeth  present  on  vomers  and 
palatines;  lower  pharyngeals  narrow  but  heavy,  the  teeth  long  but  blunt; 
operculum  short  and  broadly  rounded  behind,  its  membranous  margin  broad 
and  fleshy;  gill-rakers  stout  and  short,  about  %  diameter  of  eye.  Dorsal 
X,  10  or  11;  the  spines  variable,  usually  rather  low,  longest  1.9  to  2.7  in 
head;  anal  III,  8  to  10;  pectorals  variable,  always  considerably  shorter  than 
head,  sometimes  but  slightly  longer  than  to  back  of  cheek  in  adults;  their 
length  1.2  to  1.6  in  length  of  head;  ventrals  always  extending  to  vent,  some- 
times to  anal.  Scales  5,  34-41, 13  or  14,  the  number  in  the  lateral  line  usually 
nearer  40  than  34;  4  or  5  rows  on  cheek. 

A  comparatively  rare  sunfish,  taken  by  us  but  twenty-four 
times,  and  mostly  from  the  bottom-land  lakes  and  ponds  of  the 
Illinois  River.  We  have  collected  it  also  from  two  localities 
on  the  Wabash,  from  one  on  the  Mississippi  in  Hancock  county, 
and  from  one  on  a  branch  of  the  Kankakee.  It  is  evidently  a 
southern  species,  ranging  to  Florida  and  Louisiana,  and  it  is  not 
reported  by  Hay  or  Osburn  in  listing  the  fishes  of  Indiana  or 
Ohio.  It  is  said  to  be  common  in  some  streams  of  Texas. 
Specimens  taken  by  the  senior  author  in  1880  and  1885  from  the 
Little  Fox  River  at  Phillipstown,  in  White  county,  and  from  the 
Wabash  River  and  Drew  pond,  near  Carmi,  were  described 
under  the  name  of  Lepomis  garmani. 

Females  with  mature  ova,  and  spawning  or  about  to  spawn, 
were  caught  by  Dr.  Kofoid  May  18,  1896,  and  Craig  reported  it 
apparently  spawning  between  the  20th  and  the  30th  of  May,  1898 


254 


PISHES  OF   ILLINOIS 


LEPOMIS  MEGALOTIS   (KAFINESQUE) 

LONG-EARED    SUNFISH 
(MAP  LXXVI) 

Raflnesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  29  (Ichthelis). 

J.  &  G.,  477;   M.  V.,  118;  J.  &  B.,  I,  1002;   B.,  I,  26;  N.,  38  (Ichthelis  megalotis  and 

sanguinolentus);    J.,   46    (Xenotis   megalotis,   inscriptus,   and    peltastes) ;    F.   F., 

I.  3,  53  (Xenotis  peltastes,  etc.);   F.,  68;  L,.,  24;   R.,  34. 

Length  3^  to  6  inches;  body  short  and  deep;  back  much  elevated  and 
profile  steep,  sometimes  excessively  so  in  adults;  angle  at  nape  usually 
rather  prominent;  depth  1.8  to  2.3  in  length. 
Color  light  to  darker  olive;  sides  irregularly 
spotted  with  orange  and  emerald,  spots  of  latter 
color  often  forming  somewhat  indistinct  wavy 
vertical  streaks;  belly  pale  to  bright  orange; 
cheeks  light  olive  to  orange,  with  wavy  streaks 
of  emerald;  opercular  flap  entirely  black  or 
with  a  very  narrow  pale  margin,  pinkish  to 
light  crimson  behind;  iris  reddish  before  and 
behind  pupil;  membranes  of  soft  dorsal  and 
anal  pale  orange;  pectorals  dusky,  usually  less 
so  than  in  females.  Head  2.8  to  3.3  in  length; 
eye  3  to  4  in  head;  mouth  moderate,  2.4  to  2.7 
in  head  in  adults,  maxillary  extending  almost 
to  middle  of  orbit;  no  supplemental  maxillary 
bone  and  no  palatine  teeth;  lower  pharyngeals 
narrow  and  weak,  the  teeth  slender  and  acutely 
pointed;  opercular  flap  variously  developed,  in 
adults  generally  very  long  (always  much  shorter 
in  young),  often  \Yi  times  snout,  usually  rather 
broadened  behind,  with  or  without  pale  margin; 
gill-rakers  short,  not  over  %  diameter  of  eye, 
very  soft  and  weak.  Dorsal  X,  11,  the  spines 
usually  low,  the  longest  reaching  from  snout  to 
middle  of  eye,  2.1  to  2.8  in  head  in  adults,  usually 
over  2.6;  pectorals  short,  1  to  1.2  in  head;  ven- 
trals  usually  reaching  somewhat  beyond  first 
anal  spine.  Scales  5,  37-39,  14,  those  on  cheeks 
in  about  5  rows. 

This  is  a  very  showy  sunfish,  one  of  the  most  brilliant,  in 
its  breeding  colors,  of  our  fresh-water  fishes.  Its  distribution  in 
Illinois  is  peculiar  in  the  fact  that  it  is  extremely  abundant  in 
the  southern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  state,  occurring  everywhere 
in  the  smaller  streams,  including  those  of  the  lower  glaciation, 
and  often  likewise  in  the  larger  rivers,  while  in  the  remainder  of 
the  state,  although  generally  distributed,  it  is  comparatively 
scarce,  and  is  to  be  found  mainly  along  the  principal  streams,  and 


FIG.  62 

Opercular  flaps  of  Lepomis 
megalotis,  one  figure  en- 
tire the  other  showing 
flap  denuded  of  epidermis 
and  fleshy  or  membranous 
border. 


". 


LEPOMIS — SUNFISHES  255 

not  widely  distributed  through  the  country  at  large.  Our  fre- 
quency statistics,  derived  from  151  collections,  show  that  this  is 
a  sunfish  of  the  creeks  and  smaller  rivers,  where  its  coefficients  are 
2.98  and  2.35  respectively,  the  corresponding  figures  for  the 
larger  rivers  and  for  lowland  lakes  being  .17  and  .14.  In  the 
upland  lakes  we  have  not  taken  it  at  all. 

Northward  this  species  grades  into  a  smaller  dwarfish 
variety,  probably  Xenotis  lythrochloris,  which  has  been  taken 
only  in  the  clear  swift  water  of  the  Fox  at  Ottawa,  Lacon,  and 
Algonquin;  in  the  Du  Page  at  Naperville;  in  the  Vermilion  at 
Pontiac  and  Fairbury;  in  a  small  creek  in  Du  Page  county;  and 
in  Indian  creek,  La  Salle  county.  These  small  forms  have  the 
ear-flaps  red  and  the  scales  of  the  cheek  smaller  than  typical 
megalotis.  Their  size  is  alone  sufficient  to  distinguish  them, 
gravid  females  having  been  found  only  1  %  inches  long,  and  no 
specimen  exceeding  three  inches. 

Found  outside  our  limits  in  Lakes  Erie,  Huron,  and  Michi- 
gan; on  the  south  Atlantic  coast  in  Georgia  and  the  Florida 
peninsula;  through  the  Ohio  and  Missouri  basins  to  Iowa  and 
Minnesota,  and  thence  south  through  Arkansas  to  the  Rio 
Grande.  It  is  said  to  avoid  muddy  water,  is  especially  abundant 
in  small  brooks,  and  frequents  deep  still  places  in  rivers  and  clear 
ponds.  It  is  wanting  in  the  Atlantic  drainage  of  the  northern 
and  middle  states. 

The  long-eared  sunfish  is  not  ordinarily  more  than  four  or 
five  inches  long,  and  has  no  commercial  importance.  Our 
scanty  observations  indicate  that  it  feeds  on  aquatic  insects, 
mostly  larvae  of  gnats  and  day-flies.  Notwithstanding  its  more 
limited  distribution,  it  is  a  frequent  companion  of  the  green 
sunfish  (coefficient  of  association,  2.65),  and  inhabits  similar 
waters  where  it  is  most  abundant. 

LEPOMIS  HUMILIS   (GIKARD) 

ORANGE-SPOTTED    SUNFISH 
(MAP  LXXVII) 

Girard,  1857,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  201  (Bryttus). 

J.  &  G.,  479;    M.  V.,  118;    J.  &  E.,  I,  1004;   B.,  I,  30    (Eupomotis) ;    N.,  38    (Ichthelis 
anagallinus);  J.,  45  (Lepiopomis  anagallinus) ;   F.,  68;  L>.,  24;  R.,  34. 

Size  small,  length  not  over  3^  inches;  body  elongate,  compressed,  the 
back  almost  carinate  for  some  distance  in  front  of  the  dorsal;  dorsal  outline 
usually  somewhat  more  curved  than  ventral;  profile  long,  sloping  gradually, 
usually  nearly  straight,  the  angle  at  the  nape  in  most  cases  very  slight,  and 
greatest  in  males;  depth  2.1  to  2.5  in  length,  usually  about  2.4.  Color  light 


256 


FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 


olive,  the  sides  sprinkled  with  fine  dots  of  gold  to  emerald;  belly  deep  orange, 
dusted  with  brown;  sides  with  about  20  to  30  orange  spots,  somewhat  smaller 
in  size  than  the  pupil,  irregularly  distributed,  their  color  deeper  and  brighter 
in  males  than  in  females,  the  spots  usually  a  dull  brown  in  the  latter;  top 
of  head  slaty;  a  suggestion  of  wavy  lines  of  emerald  on 
cheeks;  black  color  on  the  opercular  flap  mostly  con- 
fflft^  fined  to  the  membranous  portion,   barely  tipping  the 

operculum;  the  pale  margin  of  the  membrane  quite  wide, 
/  m  tjL  its  color  variable  —  pale  lavender,  pinkish,  or  light  crim- 

^MS&V         son'  sPmous  Dorsal  with  narrow  edging  of  crimson  and 
H^      soft  portion  with  wide  margin  of  orange  in  males;  ven- 
•fc,     trals   and  anal  orange,   color   deeper   and   approaching 
•~J*     crimson  in  males;  distal  margin  of  anal  dusky;  other 
f  —  -sx  fins  plain.    Head  2.3  to  2.9  in  length,  its  top  long,  flattened 

(        \  or  very  little  convex;  eye  3.7  to  4.5  in  head;  mouth 

X^fcfefcA-  moderate,  maxillary  extending  past  front  of  orbit,  never 

l^'^H^^^v        ^°  ^s  middle,  2-7  to  3  in  head;  jaws  about  equal;  lower 
/•>  B^s.    pharyngeals  narrow,  very  weak,  the  teeth  slender  and 

81^  very  acutely  pointed;  opercular  bone  sharply  rounded 
backward,  black  only  at  its  tip;  the  membranous  flap 
long  and  broad  and  very  thin,  not  forming  a  pale  edg- 
m^  on^'  ^ut  Dearmg  the  most  of  the  black  color  of  the 
opercular  spot;  gill-rakers  long,  rather  more  than  % 
diameter  of  eye.  Dorsal  X,  10  or  11;  spinous  and  soft 
portions  of  about  equal  height;  the  spines  slender,  rather 

long>   the   lonSest   2'4  to   2'6   in   head  in   adults>    usually 

about  2.5;  anal  III,  9;  pectorals  1  to  1.3  in  head,  usually 
about  1.1;  ventrals  reaching  to  base  of  first  anal  spine. 
Scales  4  or  5,  34-42,  11  to  13;  pores  lacking  on  some 
scales;  rows  on  cheek  5  or  6. 

This  is  a  showy  and,  indeed,  a  brilliant  little  fish,  of  a  size  so 
small  that  it  is  ornamental  only.  Our  177  collections  were  taken 
most  frequently  from  creeks  (2.06),  next  from  the  smaller  rivers 
(1.51),  and  then  from  lowland  lakes  (1.19),  none  at  all  coming 
from  upland  glacial  lakes.  They  were  well  distributed  through 
the  state,  most  abundantly,  however,  in  the  prairie  region  of 
central  Illinois,  where  this  species  is  found  in  frequent  company 
with  the  green  sunfish.  It  is  often  taken  along  the  shore  of  the 
Illinois  River  and  in  adjacent  lakes  and  sloughs,  but  has  been 
rare  or  absent  in  extreme  northern  Illinois,  occurring  in  the  Fox 
and  Rock  river  systems  only  near  the  mouths  of  those  streams. 
Its  general  distribution  in  the  smaller  rivers,  and  in  lakes  and 
ponds  of  the  bottom-lands,  brings  it  also  into  contact  with  the 
crappies.  Its  associative  coefficient  is  2.35  for  the  green  sun- 
fish  and  2.94  for  the  pale  crappie.  If  one  may  judge  from  its 
feeding  structures,  it  is  protected  from  serious  competition  with 
these  companion  species  by  differences  in  its  food. 


FIG.  63 

Opercular  fla  s  of  Le 
pomis  humilis,  one 
figure  entire,  the 
other  showing  flap 

nTand  Ish'y   o" 

membranous    bor- 
der. 


LEPOMJS — 8UNFISHES 


257 


It  ranges  widely  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley,  from 
Minnesota  and  South  Dakota  and  the  Ohio  basin  generally,  to 
Kansas,  Arkansas,  and  Texas.  We  find  no  mention  of  it  from 
the  Atlantic  slope. 

Ripe  males  and  females  in  high  coloration,  swimming  in 
pairs,  were  taken  by  Dr.  Kofoid  in  Meredosia  Bay  June  8,  1899. 
The  sexes  present  a  notably  different  appearance  in  outline  as 
well  as  in  color,  the  males  having  the  forehead  concave,  the 
profile  steeper,  and  the  ventrals  longer  than  the  females. 


LEPOMIS  PALLIDUS   (MITCHILL) 
BLUEGILL;  BLUB  SUNFISH 

(MAP  LXXVIII) 

Mitchill,  1815,  Trans.  Lit.  and  Phil.  Soc.  N.  Y.,  407  (Labrus). 

J.  &  G.,  479;   M.  V.,  118;   J.  &  E.f  I.  1005;   B.(  I,  29   (Eupomotis);    N.,  37   (Ichthelis 

incisor  and  speciosus) ;   J.,  45   (Lepiopomus) ;   F.  F.,  I.,  3,  48   (Lepiopomus) ;    F., 

67;  L.,  25;   R.,  34. 

Length  of  adults  5  to  8  inches,  the  body  compressed,  short  and  deep, 
extremely  so  in  adults;  the  dorsal  outline  somewhat  more  curved  than  the 
ventral;  profile  rather  steep,  not  sharply  angled  at  nape  but  excavate  in  a 
shallow  curve  which  continues  almost  to  end  of  snout,  giving  the  nose  an 
upturned  appearance;  depth  1.9  to  2.2, 
usually  about  2.  Color  light  to  dark 
olive,  with  more  or  less  luster  of  purple 
to  lavender;  adults  usually  very  dark; 
belly  yellow  or  rich  yellowish  brown, 
with  margins  of  scales  lighter;  about 
six  more  or  less  distinct  wavy  vertical 
bars  of  dusky  on  sides,  most  apparent 
below  lateral  line,  usually  becoming 
obsolete  in  adults;  snout  dull  slate, 
velvety;  chin  emerald;  cheeks  and 
opercles  olive  with  iridescent  gold  and 
emerald;  gill-flap  deep  blue-black  be- 
hind, velvety,  without  evident  pale 
margin,  the  black  of  the  flap  some- 
times lightening  to  a  dull  emerald- 
green;  fins  all  more  or  less  dusky, 
ventrals  and  anal  most  so;  pectorals 
almost  plain,  pale;  dorsal  with  a 
diffuse  but  usually  evident  black 

blotch  at  base  of  last  rays.  Head  short,  small,  2.9  to  3.4  in  length,  usually 
about  3.1  in  adults;  eye  2.9  to  3.9  in  head;  mouth  small,  very  oblique,  the 
jaws  equal;  maxillary  scarcely  reaching  front  of  orbit,  2.9  to  3.3  in  head  in 
adults;  supplemental  maxillary  very  rudimentary  or  wanting;  no  teeth  on 


FIG.  64 


FIG.  65 

Lower  left  pharyngeal  of  Lepomispattidus: 
Fig.  64,  from  above;  Fig.  65,  from  below. 


258  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

palatines;  lower  pharyngeals  narrow  and  weak,  the  teeth  slender  and  sharp; 
operculum  more  or  less  prolonged  backward  in  adults,  always  rather  wide 
and  bluntly  rounded  posteriorly,  usually  rather  conspicuously  striate  lon- 
gitudinally, the  membranous  margin  very  narrow  or  wholly  wanting,  its  color 
when  present  very  little  if  any  lighter  than  the  black  of  the  osseous  portion 
of  the  flap;  gill-rakers  rather  long  and  slender,  but  firm,  the  longest  almost 
y$  diameter  of  eye.  Dorsal  X,  10  to  12,  usually  X,  11;  spines  long,  the 
longest  1.3  to  2.4  in  head,  usually  about  2  in  adults;  anal  III,  10  or  12;  pec- 
torals long,  pointed  behind,  about  equal  to  head  or  a  little  less,  .9  to  1  in 
head,  usually  about  1  in  adults;  ventrals  reaching  anal.  Scales  6,  38-48, 
13  or  14;  those  on  cheek  in  5  rows. 

This  is  the  principal  sunfish  of  our  larger  rivers,  and  the  one 
appearing  most  frequently  in  the  large  nets  of  the  regular  river 
fishermen.  It  occurs  throughout  the  state,  but  is  generally 
limited  to  the  larger  streams  and  their  principal  tributaries, 
except  that  it  is  common  in  the  northeastern  glacial  lakes.  It 
has  also  been  taken  by  us  in  the  Michigan  drainage.  Judging 
from  our  214  collections,  it  is  primarily  a  pond  species,  its  fre- 
quency ratio  in  the  ponds  and  lakes  being  1.6.  In  flowing 
streams  it  is  commonest  in  the  larger  rivers,  and  least  com- 
mon in  creeks. 

Along  the  Atlantic  coast  it  is  found  from  New  Jersey  to  the 
Florida  peninsula;  in  the  Great  Lakes,  from  Ontario  westward, 
ranging  thence  to  the  south  and  west  through  the  Ohio  and  the 
lower  Missouri  basins  to  New  Orleans  and  Texas. 

It  is  said  by  Jordan  and  Evermann  to  be  perhaps  the  best 
known  and  certainly  the  most  important  of  all  our  true  sun- 
fishes,  decidedly  a  lake  species  everywhere,  but  more  abundant 
in  the  smaller  lakes.  It  is  the  largest  of  our  sunfishes,  reaching 
a  length  of  twelve  to  twenty-four  inches  and  a  weight  of  nearly  a 
pound,  the  maximum  weight  being  about  a  pound  and  a  half. 

In  the  food  of  twenty-six  specimens  we  have  found  a  trace  of 
fishes — a  single  darter  eaten  by  one — a  moderate  percentage  of 
univalve  mollusks,  a  large  ratio  of  insects  (45  per  cent.),  and 
many  of  the  medium-sized  Crustacea.  The  insect  food  is  derived 
in  great  measure  from  larger  aquatic  larvaB  than  most  of  our 
sunfishes  feed  upon.  The  stomachs  of  some  of  our  specimens 
were  found  to  contain  as  much  as  24  per  cent,  of  aquatic  vege- 
taton — too  large  a  quantity  to  have  been  swallowed  accidentally 
with  the  animals  eaten.  Its  food  differs  in  detail,  however, 
according  to  the  situation  in  which  it  is  found. 

The  bluegill  moves  in  schools,  and  may  be  caught  with 
almost  any  kind  of  bait  or  tackle.  Its  flesh  is  firm  and  flaky, 


EUPOMOTIS — -PUMPKINSEED  SUNEISH  259 

and  it  is  not  excelled  as  a  pan-fish  by  any  of  our  species,  unless 
it  be  the  yellow  perch.  The  greater  part  of  the  sunfish  catch 
of  Illinois,  amounting  to  200,000  to  500,000  pounds  a  year,  is 
composed  of  this  species. 

It  spawns  in  May,  according  to  our  observations  at  Mere- 
dosia,  although  Dr.  Kofoid  found  a  ripe  male  June  12. 

GENUS  EUPOMOTIS  GILL  &  JOBDAN 

PUMPKINSEED    SUNFISH 

Form  as  in  Lepomis;  mouth  always  small;  no  supplemental  maxillary 
bone  and  no  teeth  on  palatines;  lower  pharyngeals  deep  and  broad,  with 
inferior  and  lateral  prominences,  the  width  of  the  toothed  portion  about 
2  in  its  length;  pharyngeal  teeth  short  with  the  upper  surfaces  bluntly  rounded 
or  paved  (truncate);  gill-rakers  short;  fins  rather  long;  red  color  on  opercular 
flap  in  typical  species  forming  a  roundish  spot.  Eastern  United  States  and 
Canada;  3  species. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES  OF  EUPOMOTIS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.     Pectorals  reaching  vertical  from  base  of  last  anal  spine;  wavy  lines  on  checks 

faint;   border  of  opercular  flap  red  in  male,  pale  in  female heros. 

aa.  Pectorals  scarcely  reaching  front  of  anal;  evident  lines  of  emerald  on  cheeks; 
opercular  flap  with  a  blood-red  or  orange  spot  at  its  lower  posterior  cor- 
ner (white  in  preserved  specimens) gibbosus. 

EUPOMOTIS  HEROS  (BAIRD  &  GIEAED) 

Baird  &  Girard,  1854,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  25  (Pomotis). 

J.  &  G.,  480  (Lepomis),  482  (L.  notatus);  J.  &  E.,  I,  1007;  B.,  I,  32;  F.,  67  (Lepomis 
notatus);   L/.,  25;  R.,  35. 

Length  6  to  8  inches;  depth  2.1  to  2.3  in  length.  Color  pale  olive,  slightly 
mottled;  opercular  flap  black  with  a  wide  border,  which  is  blood-red  in  males, 
pale  in  females.  Head  in  length  2.7  to  3;  profile  not  angled  at  nape;  eye  3.7 
to  4  in  head;  mouth  rather  small,  the  lower  jaw  but  slightly  projecting;  max- 
illary 3.1  to  3.3  in  head;  teeth  present  on  vomer,  but  not  on  tongue  or  pala- 
tines; lower  pharyngeals  broad,  with  short  blunt  teeth;  flexible  margin  of 
opercular  flap  fleshy ;  gill-rakers  very  short,  the  longest  about  y$  eye.  Dorsal 
X,  11,  the  longest  spine  %  height  of  soft  portion;  anal  III,  10;  pectorals  very 
long,  reaching  past  a  vertical  from  base  of  last  anal  spine;  ventrals  past  vent. 
Scales  6,  36-40,  14  or  15;  rows  on  cheeks  about  4. 

This  is  a  southern  fish,  and  has  occurred  in  our  Illinois 
collections  only  at  a  few  points  in  the  Wabash  basin.  It  has 
occurred  in  Indiana  also,  in  the  same  stream  and  its  tributaries, 
and  it  has  been  lately  taken  in  Little  Eagle  Lake  in  Kosciusko 


260 


FISHES    OP   ILLINOIS 


county,  by  Professor  Moenkhaus.  It  has  been  reported  from 
the  Little  Miami  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  From  these  more 
northerly  localities  it  ranges  southeastward  to  west  Florida 
and  southwest  ward  to  the  Rio  Grande. 


c 


EUPOMOTIS  GIBBOSUS   (LINNAEUS) 

PUMPKINSEED 
(MAP  LXXIX) 

Linnseus,  1758,  Syst  Nat.,  Ed.  X,  292  (Perca). 

J.  &  G.,  482  (Lepomis);   M.  V.,  119  (Lepomis);   J.  &  E.,  I,  1009;   B.,  I,  32  (aureus); 

N.,  38   (Pomotis  auritus);    J.,  46   (aureus);   F.,  67   (Lepomis);    L,.,  25;    R.,  35,  F. 

F.,  I.  3,  53  (aureus). 

Length  of  adults  5  to  8  inches;  body  strongly  compressed,  short  and 
deep,  the  back  very  highly  arched  in  adults,  ventral  outline  less  curved  than 
dorsal;  profile  steep,  convex  in  front  of  dorsal,  the  depression  at  the  nape 
rather  slight.  Coloration  exceedingly  brilliant  and  somewhat  variable,  olive 

to  grassy  greenish,  the  back  and  upper  por- 
tion of  body  finely  dusted  with  gold  or 
emerald;  sides  with  quite  numerous  and  ir- 
regularly distributed  large  roundish  blotches, 
which  are  olive  to  coppery  in  front  and 
darker  behind,  or  dark  all  about  a  roundish 
coppery-colored  central  spot;  single  scales 
below  lateral  lines  each  with  a  quadrate 
central  spot,  these  spots  forming  rows  from 
before  backward,  alternate  ones  coppery  and 
forming  the  central  or  anterior  spot  of  the 
large  blotches  before  mentioned,  the  others 
bright  emerald  or  turquoise-blue;  belly  light 
olive  to  orange-yellow;  cheeks  and  opercles 
crossed  by  four  or  five  wavy  lines  of  emerald, 
the  interspaces  with  mingled  coppery  and 
gold  over  the  ground  olive,  producing  the 
effect  of  a  rich  bronze  in  well-colored  ex- 
amples; iris  variegated  blue  and  greenish 
with  some  crimson  above  pupil;  flap  of  opercle 
velvety  black  behind;  a  definitely  bounded 

roundish  spot  of  orange  or  turkey-red  on  the  lower  posterior  portion  of  the 
fleshy  margin;  the  margin  above  and  below  the  spot  dark  to  blackish  with 
some  coppery  luster;  membranes  of  both  portions  of  dorsal  and  of  caudal  and 
anal  somewhat  irregularly  barred  with  dull  brownish  to  orange  blotches; 
ventrals  dusky  in  males,  paler  or  entirely  pale  in  females.  Head  small,  short 
2.8  to  3.2  in  length;  the  snout  with  a  somewhat  snubbed  appearance,  very 
short,  its  length  scarcely  more  than  eye;  eye  3.5  to  4.2  in  head;  mouth  small, 
the  jaws  equal;  maxillary  reaching  but  a  little  past  front  of  orbit,  2.6  to  3.3 
in  head;  no  supplemental  maxillary  and  no  palatine  teeth;  lower  pharyngeals 
broad  and  deep,  with  inferior  and  lateral  prominences;  the  teeth  short  and 


FIG.  67 


Lower  left  pharyngeal  of  Eupo- 
m-jtis  gibhnsvs:  Fig.  66  from 
above;  Fig.  67  from  outside. 


EUPOMOTIS — PUMPKINSEED   SUNFISH  261 

stout,  their  upper  surfaces  bluntly  rounded  or  paved;  operculum  quite  firm 
behind,  the  bony  portion  distinct  from  a  broad  paler  fleshy  margin;  gill- 
rakers  short  and  soft,  but  little  better  developed  than  in  L.  megalotis.  Dorsal 
X,  11  or  12;  the  spines  rather  high,  the  highest  2  to  2.4  in  head,  about  as  long 
as  snout  and  eye.  Anal  III,  10  or  11;  pectorals  rather  long,  1  to  1.1  in  head; 
ventrals  exceeding  vent,  usually  reaching  to  or  a  little  past  first  anal  spine. 
Scales  5,  35-40,  13  or  14;  4  or  5  rows  on  cheek. 

This  very  abundant  species  of  extreme  northern  Illinois, 
especially  common  in  the  upland  lakes  of  Lake  and  McHenry 
counties,  is  scarcely  known  south  of  the  center  of  the  state, 
having  occurred,  indeed,  but  twice  in  all  our  collections  below 
the  latitude  of  Springfield — once  in  Clear  Lake,  across  the  Ohio 
from  Cairo,  and  once  in  Drew  pond,  near  Carmi,  on  the  Little 
Wabash  River.  It  is  essentially  a  pond  species,  and  is  next 
most  abundant  in  the  smaller  rivers,  our  ratios  being  2.16  for 
glacial  lakes,  1.24  for  lowland  lakes,  and  1.06  for  rivers  of  the 
second  class.  We  have  taken  it  only  occasionally  in  the  larger 
rivers  and  in  creeks,  its  absence  in  the  latter  in  this  state  being 
probably  due  to  its  preference  for  clear  streams,  in  which  the 
greater  part  of  our  area  is  notably  deficient.  Its  local  distribu- 
tion brings  it  into  frequent  company  with  the  warmouth  (coeffi- 
cient of  association,  3.72),  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the 
pumpkinseed  is  much  the  most  abundant  northward  in  this  state 
and  the  warmouth  decidedly  so  southward.  Competition  is 
evaded,  however,  by  their  widely  different  food  and  feeding 
structures.  The  pumpkinseed  is  the  best  fitted  of  all  our  sun- 
fishes  to  crush  and  devour  mollusks,  and  we  found  these  making 
nearly  half  the  food  of  nine  specimens  examined  by  us.  Fishes 
were  entirely  wanting,  insects  amounted  only  to  about  a  fifth, 
and  medum-sized  crustaceans  (Allorchestes  and  Asellus)  were 
represented  by  another  fifth. 

Its  general  range  is  illustrated  by  its  Illinois  distribution, 
except  that  it  extends  down  the  Atlantic  coast,  at  least  as  far  as 
the  Carolinas.  It  has,  indeed,  been  attributed  to  Florida  since 
the  days  of  Holbrook  (1855),  and  Goode  reports  it  as  common  in 
all  the  fresh  waters  of  that  state,  but  we  have  failed  to  find  any 
specific  account  of  its  capture  there  or  any  mention  of  a  precise 
locality  from  which  it  has  been  taken.  Northward  it  occurs  in 
Ontario,  Quebec,  and  New  Brunswick,  and  in  Lakes  Huron,  Erie, 
Ontario,  and  Champlain.  In  the  Mississippi  Valley  it  is  found 
only  in  the  northern  portion,  abundant  as  far  south  as  northern 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Iowa,  and  the  Osage  River  in  Kansas. 
Below  extreme  northern  Illinois  it  is  found  mainly  in  lakes  and 


£62  FISHES  OP  ILLINOIS 

along  the  Illinois  River,  this  stream  serving  for  this  species,  as  for 
so  many  others,  as  a  highway  for  the  dispersal  movement. 

It  is  one  of  the  best-known  fishes  of  its  area,  especially  to  the 
small  boy.  It  may  reach  a  weight  of  six  or  eight  ounces  and  a 
length  of  eight  inches,  although  it  is  ordinarily  much  smaller. 
It  is  a  "very  beautiful  and  compact  little  fish,  perfect  in  all  its 
parts,  looking  like  a  brilliant  coin  fresh  from  the  mint." 

The  breeding  habits  have  been  described  by  Dr.  Kirtland, 
who  says  that  the  males  prepare  a  circular  nest  by  removing 
seeds  and  dead  aquatic  plants  for  a  space  a  foot  in  diameter, 
excavating  to  a  depth  of  3  to  4  inches.  The  nests  are  in  shallow 
water,  and  are  encircled  by  aquatic  plants,  space  being  left  open 
for  the  admission  of  light.  Observations  by  Dr.  Reighard  indi- 
cate that  the  male  alone  is  concerned  in  building  the  nest.  The 
weight  of  testimony  seems  also  to  the  effect  that  the  male  guards 
the  nest  and  young,  although  the  female  may  be  present.* 
Dr.  Reighard  says  that  the  male  in  approaching  the  female  to 
induce  her  to  enter  the  nest  elevates  and  puffs  out  his  gill-covers 
and  erects  his  ear-flaps,  so  that  there  is  a  brilliant  display  of 
color  to  the  female  in  front.  He  also  saw  a  similar  attitude 
assumed  by  the  male  when  threatening  or  attacking  other  males. 
The  spawning  season  is  May  to  June. 

The  pumpkinseed  is  a  good  pan-fish,  but  is  not  especially 
important  as  a  commercial  product.  It  is  sufficiently  hardy  to 
be  transported  with  ease,  and  has  been  acclimatized  in  Europe. 
It  is  one  of  the  best  of  fishes  for  keeping  ponds  free  from  mosquitoes. 

GENUS  MICROPTERUS  LACEPEDE 

BLACK   BASS 

Body  rather  elongate,  the  back  not  much  elevated;  mouth  very  large; 
supplemental  maxillary  well  developed;  preopercle  entire;  operculum  emar- 
ginate  behind;  teeth  on  jaws,  vomer,  and  palatines;  tongue  usually  without 
teeth;  gill-rakers  long  and  slender;  dorsal  spines  10,  the  spinous  and  soft 
dorsals  confluent  but  divided  by  a  deep  notch;  anal  spines  3;  caudal  emar- 
ginate;  scales  weakly  ctenoid. 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  MICROPTERUS 

a.     Mouth  moderate,  the  maxillary  never  extending  beyond  eye,  usually  a  little 
short  of  back  of  orbit;   scales  on  cheeks  in  about  17  rows;  young  more  or 

less  barred  or  spotted,  never  with  a  black  lateral  band dolomieu. 

aa.  Mouth  very  large,  the  maxillary  in  the  adult  extending  past  back  of  orbit; 
scales  on  cheek  large,  in  about  10  rows;  young  with  a  blackish  lateral 
band  salmoides. 


*  Dr.  Smith  saw  both  parents  by  a  nest  as  a  crab  approached.  The  female  retired  while 
the  male  attacked  the  crab  and  drove  him  off,  after  which  he  sought  the  female  and  returned 
with  her  to  the  nest. 


\\ . 


i 


MICROPTERUS BLACK  BASS  263 

MICROPTERUS  DOLOMIEU  LACEPEDE 

SMALL-MOUTHED   BLACK   BASS 
(MAP  LXXX) 

3,  1802,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  IV,  325. 
Q.,  I,  258  (Centrarchus  fasciatus  and  obscurus);   J.  &  G..  485;  M.  V.,  120;  B.,  I.  15; 
J.  &  E.,  I,  1011;   N.,  37  (salmoides);   J.,  44   (salmoides);    F.,  67;   L,.,  25;   F.  F.,  I. 
3,  41  (salmoides). 

Length  12  to  15  inches;  body  ovate-fusiform,  moderately  compressed, 
becoming  deeper  with  age;  profile  convex;  depth  2.9  to  3.1;  greatest  width 
about  %  greatest  depth;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  1.5  to  1.9  in  its  length. 
Color  of  upper  parts  silvery  to  golden  green,  with  faint  vermiculations  of 
darker  (olive-green)  above  lateral  line  and  with  10  to  15  more  or  less  indistinct 
olive-green  bars  below  it;  belly  and  breast  pale  bluish  gray  to  whitish;  cheeks 
with  5  olive-green  bars  radiating  backward  from  eye  and  one  forward  to  end 
of  snout;  iris  rufous;  fins  nearly  plain  in  adults,  olive  to  grayish,  the  caudal 
dark  about  margin;  young  plain,  or  with  dark  spots  tending  to  form  vertical 
bars,  never  with  a  dark  lateral  stripe;  caudal  of  young  specimens  yellowish  at 
base,  and  with  free  margin  whitish,  the  region  between  dusky;  color  of  adults 
varying*  with  range,  the  season,  and  the  mood  of  the  fish.  Head  2.9  to  3.7; 
width  head  1.8  to  2.1;  interorbital  space  convex,  3.5  to  3.9;  eye  5.6  to  6.9; 
nose  3  to  3.3;  mouth  smaller  than  in  the  next  species,  maxillary  2.1  to  2.3, 
considerably  shortf  of  back  of  orbit;  lower  jaw  projecting;  gill-rakers  long, 
X  +  6  or  7,  +  rudiments.  Dorsal  X  (or  IX),  13-15,  the  spinous  dorsal 
long  and  low  and  separated  by  a  deep  notch  from  soft  dorsal,  the  fifth  (longest) 
spine  about  4  in  head  and  the  lowest  posterior  spine  about  }/£  height  of  fifth; 
caudal  lunate;  anal  III  (rarely  IV  or  II),  10-12;  ventrals  more  than  half  to 
vent;  pectorals  short,  little  past  backward  reach  of  ventrals,  1.9  to  2.1  in  head. 
Scales  10-12,  66-78,  19-22;  lateral  line  complete  or  nearly  so;  scales  on  cheeks 
in  about  17  rows. 

This  is  perhaps  the  most  famous  and  familiar  of  our  fresh- 
water fishes,  surpassing  the  brook  trout  in  that  respect  because 
of  its  much  more  general  distribution,  and  the  whitefish  and  the 
lake  trout  both  for  that  reason  and  because  of  its  surpassing 
interest  as  a  sportsman's  fish.  It  is  far  better  known  to  many 
anglers  than  to  ourselves,  and  has  been  written  upon  so  much 
from  the  angler's  point  of  view  that  we  shall  treat  it  briefly  in 
this  report. 

In  Illinois  it  is  mainly  a  northern  fish,  avoiding  the  lower 
Illinoisan  glaciation,  within  whose  boundaries  it  has  occurred 
but  once  in  our  101  collections  of  the  species,  owing  largely  no 
doubt  to  its  marked  preference  for  clear,  swift  water.  It  is 
much  the  most  abundant  in  the  northern  section  of  the  state,  its 
frequency  ratio  there  being  2.35  as  compared  with  .32  for  each 

*  See  Reighard,  Henshall,  et  al. 

t  Old  examples  sometimes  have  maxillary  nearly  to  back  of  orbit,  according  to  Jordan 
and  Evermann. 


264  FISHES   OP  ILLINOIS 

of  the  other  sections.  We  have  taken  it  most  frequently  from 
the  smaller  rivers,  about  half  as  commonly  from  creeks,  and 
somewhat  less  commonly  from  the  clear  upland  lakes  of  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  state.  It  has  occurred  but  rarely  in 
our  collections  from  either  the  larger  rivers  or  from  lowland  lakes 
and  sloughs.  Its  avoidance  of  such  situations  is  especially 
illustrated  by  the  fact  that  it  is  recorded  but  five  times  in  546 
collections  examined  by  us  from  the  Illinois  River  at  Havana  and 
Meredosia;  that  is,  only  5  per  cent,  of  the  collections  of  this 
species  have  been  made  from  these  Illinois  River  localities,  from 
which  35  per  cent,  of  all  our  collections  came.  Its  very  marked 
preference  for  a  swift  current  and  a  clean  bottom  is  a  matter  of 
common  observation,  and  is  shown  also  by  the  data  of  our 
collections,  according  to  which  it  has  come  from  swift  waters 
more  than  three  times  as  often  as  from  a  quiet  current,  and  from 
a  bottom  of  rock  and  sand  nearly  twelve  times  as  frequently 
as  from  one  of  mud. 

These  preferences  bring  about  a  wide  separation  between 
this  bass  and  the  closely  related  species  of  the  same  genus — the 
large-mouthed  black  bass.  These  two  species  inhabit  the  same 
general  area,  may  often  be  found  in  the  same  streams,  and  feed 
on  the  same  food,  differing  only,  so  far  as  known,  in  respect  to 
the  ratios  of  the  principal  elements.  Nevertheless,  they  avoid 
competition  by  a  difference  in  the  situations  preferred.  These 
closely  allied  species  have,  according  to  our  data,  an  associative 
coefficient  of  1.08,  while  the  small-mouthed  black  bass  and  the 
rock  bass,  differing  in  characters,  habits,  and  food,  have  a 
coefficient  of  6.24.  In  other  words,  the  latter  two  unlike  species 
are  brought  by  a  similarity  of  local  preference  into  each  other's 
company  about  three  and  a  half  times  as  frequently  as  the  like 
species  of  black  bass.  The  differences  of  local  preference  are  not 
so  great,  however,  but  that  the  two  species  are  frequently  found 
together.  According  to  Jordan  and  Evermann,  "Some  small 
lakes  that  are  rather  shallow,  whose  bottoms  are  chiefly  mud 
and  whose  water  is  warm,  are  found  to  be  well  suited  to  the 
straw  bass  [large-mouthed]  and  to  be  entirely  without  the  small- 
mouthed  black  bass.  But  small  lakes  of  considerable  depth,  cool 
water,  and  with  bottom  partly  of  mud  and  partly  of  sand  and 
gravel,  such  as  Lake  Maxinkuckee,  seem  equally  well  adapted 
to  both  species. " 

The  small-mouthed  bass  is  found  wide-spread  throughout 
the  country,  from  Lake  Champlain  and  the  River  St.  Lawrence 


MICROPTERUS — BLACK   BASS  265 

to  the  Muskoka  lakes  in  Ontario,  and  southward  to  Arkansas, 
northern  Mississippi  and  South  Carolina.  It  is  abundant  in 
suitable  situations  on  both  sides  of  the  Alleghanies,  preferring 
clear  cool  streams  with  moderately  swift  current,  not  infre- 
quently being  taken  in  swift  riffles.  It  is  not  found  in  warm, 
muddy,  or  sluggish  water,  as  is  the  large-mouthed  bass. 

Curiously  little  is  known  of  its  food,  the  literature  of  the 
subject  containing  only  general  statements  apparently  based  on 
ordinary  observations.  But  three  specimens  have  been  ex- 
amined by  us,  and  their  food  consisted  wholly  of  fishes  and  craw- 
fishes, approximately  a  third  of  the  first  and  two  thirds  of  the 
second.  Among  the  fishes  were  a  stonecat  (Noturus  flavus) 
and  a  log-perch  (Percina  caprodes). 

The  small-mouthed  bass  reaches  a  weight  of  5  or  6  Ib 
(Henshall,  Tisdale,  et  al.) .  It  is  always  easily  distinguished  from 
the  large-mouthed  species  by  the  shorter  maxillary,  which  never 
extends  to  a  vertical  from  the  back  of  the  orbit,  and  by  the 
smaller  scales,  of  which  there  are  17  rows  on  the  cheeks,  and  10 
or  11  longitudinal  series  between  the  mid-dorsal  and  the  lateral 
line.  In  the  large-mouthed  form  the  maxillary  extends  past  a 
vertical  from  the  back  of  the  orbit,  and  the  scales  are  consider- 
ably larger,  there  being  only  9  or  10  rows  on  the  cheeks  and  8 
or  9  longitudinal  series  of  scales  above  the  lateral  line.  The 
young  of  the  small-mouthed  bass  have  a  dusky  bar  crossing  the 
caudal  fin,  and  lack  the  dark  lateral  stripe  which  characterizes 
the  young  of  the  large-mouthed  species.  This  fish  is  often  called 
" tiger  bass"  in  the  East  and  North. 

The  small-mouthed  bass  will  take  live  minnows  or  any  other 
live  bait,  and  does  not  disdain  the  artificial  fly.  In  the  words 
of  Dr.  Henshall,  often  quoted,  "He  is  plucky,  game,  brave  and 
unyielding  to  the  last  wThen  hooked.  He  has  the  arrowy  rush 
of  the  trout  and  bold  leap  of  the  salmon,  while  he  has  a  system 
of  fighting  tactics  peculiarly  his  own.  *  *  *  I  consider  him, 
inch  for  inch  and  pound  for  pound,  the  gamest  fish  that  swims." 

The  small-mouthed  bass  hibernates  in  winter,  going  into 
deep  places  under  the  shelter  of  rocks  and  remaining  torpid  till 
spring  (Tisdale). 

This  species,  like  the  next,  builds  a  nest,*  usually  in  about 
three  feet  of  water  on  a  bottom  of  sand  or  gravel.  The  male 
roots  down  into  the  bottom,  fanning  away  the  sand  with  his 

*  In  the  account  of  the  nesting  habits  we  follow,  except  when  otherwise  stated,  Lydell 
(Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1902,  pp.  39-44). 
— 26  P 


266  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

tail,  until  mud  is  reached,  about  3  or  4  inches  below  the  sand. 
The  sand  forms  a  ridge  a  few  inches  high  around  the  nest,  and 
a  log  often  forms  an  additional  shelter  on  one  side.  The  females 
are  not  about  during  the  nest-building,  which  occupies  from  4 
to  48  hours.  When  the  nest  is  finished,  the  male  seeks  the  female 
to  induce  her  to  enter  the  nest,  biting  her  gently  and  swimming 
across  beneath  her,  striking  her  as  he  passes.  The  eggs  and 
milt  are  deposited  with  the  vents  of  the  two  sexes  approximated. 
After  the  eggs  are  all  laid,  in  successive  ovipositions,  the  male 
drives  the  female  away,  himself  remaining  alone  to  guard  the 
nest.  Dr.  Reighard  has  found  that  in  both  this  and  the  next 
species  the  male  cares  for  the  eggs  till  hatched,  and  watches  over 
the  young  till  they  are  well  grown.  He  found  the  small-mouthed 
bass  spawning  in  Michigan  between  the  end  of  April  and  the 
end  of  June.  Nest-building  was  begun  at  a  temperature  of  60° 
Fahr.,  but  the  eggs  were  not  laid  till  the  water  reached  62°  to 
65°.  Tisdale  states  that  it  takes  six  years  for  a  weight  of  3  Ib 
to  be  reached,  growth  continuing  after  that  at  about  half  a 
pound  a  year  till  a  weight  of  6  Ib  is  attained. 

Though  practically  unexcelled  as  a  fresh-water  game  fish 
this  species  does  not  take  the  highest  rank  as  food,  being,  in  the 
words  of  Dr.  Henshall,  "inferior  to  trout  and  whitefishes,  and 
perhaps  even  to  pike  and  channel-cat." 

Artificial  propagation  of  this  and  the  next  species  by  taking 
and  impregnating  the  eggs  has  not  been  successful.  The  eggs 
are  not  stripped  easily,  and  it  is  necessary  to  kill  the  male  in 
order  to  get  the  milt.  Pond  culture  is  resorted  to  with  consider- 
able success,  the  percentage  of  natural  fertilizations  in  well- 
regulated  ponds  closely  approaching  the  percentage  obtained 
by  artificial  means  for  species  best  adapted  to  artificial  culture. 
This  high  ratio  is  of  course  due  to  the  fact  that  the  parent  guards 
the  eggs.  Pond  culture  has  for  several  years  been  in  successful 
operation  in  Missouri  and  in  Michigan,  and  steps  have  lately 
been  taken  towards  the  establishment  of  breeding  ponds  on  the 
upper  Fox  River  in  Illinois.  The  eggs  of  the  species  range  in 
number  from  2,000  to  10,000  per  individual.  The  fry  will 
endure  shipping  long  distances  in  the  cool  days  of  spring  or 
autumn  or  in  midwinter. 

The  small-mouthed  bass,  while  taken  in  considerable  num- 
bers by  anglers  in  the  northern  part  of  Illinois,  does  not  figure 
in  the  commercial  fisheries  of  this  state. 


MICROPTERUS — BLACK   BASS  267 

MICROPTERUS  SALMOIDES   (LACEPEDE) 

LARGE-MOUTHED   BLACK   BASS 
(FRONTISPIECE;  MAP  LXXXI) 

,  1802,  Hist.  Nat.  Poiss.,  716   (Labrus). 
J.  &  G.,  484;  M.  V.,  120;  B.,  I,  16;  J.  &  E.,  I,  1012;   N.,  36  (nigricans);   J.,  44  (palli- 
dus);  F.  F.,  I.  3,  39  (pallidus);  F.,  67;  L,.,  25. 

Length  15  to  18  inches;  form  as  in  last  species,  depth  2.9  to  3.2;  greatest 
width  about  ^5  greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.6  to  1.8  in  its  length. 
Color  of  back  and  sides  above  rather  dark  green,  growing  lighter  toward 
axis,  and  everywhere  obscurely  mottled  with  darker  in  ill-defined  blotches; 
middle  of  side  traversed  by  a  dark  streak  (indistinct  in  old  specimens),  which 
is  formed  of  more  or  less  irregular  and  discontinuous  blotches  of  dark  sage- 
green;  belly  opaque  greenish  white,  sometimes  with  a  faint  rosy  tint;  iris  sooty 
green  with  bronze  luster  and  with  a  narrow  inner  rim  of  gold;  fins  pale  olive- 
buff,  the  dorsal  and  caudal  darker  than  the  others;  anal  opaque  whitish 
toward  tip;  young  with  the  lateral  band  conspicuous  and  as  a  rule  little 
broken  into  spots,  passing  forward  through  eye  to  end  of  snout;  caudal  of 
young  specimens  pale  near  base  and  outer  margin,  between  which  is  a  dark 
band.  Head  2.8  to  2.9;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.4;  interorbital  space  convex, 
3.5  to  4.3;  eye  5.8  to  7.6;  nose  3.5  to  4;  mouth  very  large,  maxillary  reaching 
past  hinder  margin  of  orbit,  1.9  to  2.1  in  head;  lower  jaw  rather  more  promi- 
nently projecting  than  in  M.  dolomieu;  gill-rakers  long,  7  or  8  on  lower  limb 
of  arch,  besides  rudiments.  Dorsal  X  (occasionally  IX),  12-13,  the  spinous 
separated  from  the  soft  portion  by  a  very  deep  notch,  the  last  spine  scarcely 
more  than  ^3  length  of  fifth;  longest  spine  about  4  in  head;  caudal  lunate; 
anal  III  (or  II),  10-11  (or  12);  ventrals  half  way  to  vent;  pectorals  short,  2 
to  2.4  in  head.  Scales  8  or  9,  62-68,  14-18;  lateral  line  complete  or  nearly 
so;  scales  on  cheeks  in  9  or  10  rows. 

In  marked  contrast  to  the  preceding  species,  the  large- 
mouthed  black  bass  is  distributed  mainly  along  the  principal 
streams  or  the  lower  courses  of  their  larger  tributaries,  but  it 
is  not  by  any  means  confined  to  these,  occurring  in  lower  pro- 
portion in  the  smaller  streams  as  well.  It  is  also  more  equally 
distributed  throughout  the  state  than  the  small-mouthed  bass, 
and  by  passing  freely  into  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation  illus- 
trates its  indifference  to  warm  and  muddy  water.  We  have 
found  it  relatively  commoner,  in  our  211  collections,  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  state  than  in  the  central,  and  somewhat 
more  so  in  central  than  in  northern  Illinois,  the  coefficients  of 
frequency  being  1.23,  .97  and  .80  respectively.  Our  data  show  a 
fairly  equal  distribution  of  this  species  throughout  the  various 
situations  open  to  it,  the  ratios  for  lowland  and  upland  lakes,  for 
creeks,  and  the  smaller  rivers,  being  approximately  equal,  and 
those  for  the  larger  rivers  about  half  as  large. 


268  FISHES   OF  ILLINOIS 

The  general  area  of  the  species  extends  from  Lake  Huron, 
the  upper  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  Red  River  of  the  North,  south- 
ward to  Florida,  Texas,  and  northern  Mexico.  Its  western  limit 
is  in  eastern  Nebraska  and  the  Dakotas,  and  within  these  bound- 
aries it  is  everywhere  common  in  rivers,  lakes,  and  bayous, 
generally  preferring  still  or  sluggish  waters. 

The  food  of  this  bass  as  shown  by  an  examination  of  four- 
teen adults,  was  mainly  fishes  and  crawfishes,  the  former  con- 
sisting largely  of  minnows,  but  containing  likewise  catfish, 
gizzard-shad,  and  spiny-finned  species.  The  crawfish  amounted 
to  only  7  per  cent.,  and  the  insect  food  to  mere  traces. 

The  color,  and  other  difierential  characters  of  this  and  the 
last  species  have  been  in  as  much  question  among  angling 
enthusiasts  as  its  scientific  nomenclature  among  systematic 
ichthyologists.  Named  by  Lacepede  "Labrus  salmoides,"  and 
frequently  called  " trout"  in  the  South,  it  had  the  misfortune 
to  be  called  "black"  (Huro  nigricans)  by  Cuvier  and  Valen- 
ciennes, and  "pale"  (Lepomis  pallida)  by  Rafinesque,  all  within 
the  space  of  a  few  years  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  century. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  both  species  are  variable  in  color,  in  the 
words  of  Dr.  Henshall,  "running  through  all  the  shades  of  slate, 
green,  olive  and  yellow,  to  almost  white."  To  any  one  who  is 
acquainted  well  enough  with  their  anatomical  differences  to 
distinguish  them  certainly  without  reference  to  color  it  will  soon 
be  evident  that  their  variability  in  color  leaves  little  chance  for 
debate  as  to  "which  is  the  black  bass  and  which  the  green  bass, " 
such  discussions  being  idle  except  for  a  possible  small  local  value. 

Consistently  with  its  habit  of  living  in  sluggish  or  still  water, 
this  species  is  somewhat  less  active  than  the  last.  It  will,  how- 
ever, leap  five  or  six  feet  out  of  the  water  to  escape  a  net,  and  is 
for  that  reason  called  the  "jumper"  in  some  localities.  It  ranks 
high  as  a  game  fish,  although  it  is  not  so  much  sought  by  anglers 
as  its  small-mouthed  relative.  It  will  take  live  minnows  and 
other  live  baits,  as  grasshoppers,  frogs,  and  helgramites,  and  is 
also  caught  by  fly-fishing.  It  reaches  a  weight  of  8  or  9  R)  in 
this  latitude,  6  or  8  Ib  usually  being  the  limit,  and  specimens 
averaging  rather  below  4  Ib.  In  the  South  the  species  grows 
larger,  reaching  12  to  14  Ib  (Henshall). 

Its  breeding  habits  do  not  differ  greatly  from  those  of  the 
small-mouthed  bass.  Its  nests*  are  built  and  protected  by  the 

*  In  the  account  of  nesting  and  spawning  habits  we  follow  Reighard  (Mich.  Fish  Comm. 
Rep.  1903-04  Appendix). 


PERCID2E — THE   PEEOHES  269 

males,  and  are  usually  placed  among  fallen  leaves  or  fibrous 
rootlets,  or,  perhaps,  on  plain  sand  or  gravel.  The  sand,  gravel, 
or  leaves  are  scooped  out  of  the  center  to  form  a  ridge  about  the 
nest  a  few  inches  high.  The  male  seeks  the  female  or  guards 
the  nest  till  she  appears.  The  spawning  is  intermittent,  and 
the  process  of  sexual  excitation  of  the  female  by  the  male  is 
similar  to  that  observed  in  the  small-mouthed  bass.  The 
spawning  season  is  from  May  to  June.  The  eggs  are  viscid, 
and  hatch  in  eight  to  ten  days.  The  young  are  said  to  remain 
together  in  more  compact  schools  than  the  small-mouthed 
species,  making  it  easy  to  seine  the  fry  (Lydell) .  They  reach  a 
length  of  about  6  inches  in  the  first  year  after  hatching. 

This  fish  always  brings  a  good  price  in  the  market,  though 
it  is  not  specially  sought.  While  far  superior  to  the  coarse 
river  fishes,  it  is  excelled  in  flavor  and  other  edible  qualities  by 
trout  and  whitefish. 

It  bears  transportation  and  acclimatization  admirably,  and 
has  been  introduced  successfully  into  the  waters  of  the  Pacific 
states  and  of  more  than  one  country  of  Europe.  It  is  propagated 
by  the  methods  of  pond  culture,  but  does  not  submit  to  stripping 
and  the  ordinary  methods  of  artificial  culture  used  for  Salmonidce 
and  other  species. 

The  black-bass  fisheries  of  Illinois,  practically  consisting 
altogether  of  the  present  species,  amounted  in  1894  to  nearly 
90,000  Ib — 69,000  Ib  of  these  coming  from  the  Illinois  River 
alone — and  in  1899  to  more  than  120,000  Ib,  of  which  the  Illinois 
River  produced  102,000. 

FAMILY  PERCID/E 

THE   PERCHES 

Body  more  or  less  elongate,  terete  or  compressed;  dorsal  and  ventral 
outlines  more  or  less  unlike;  scales  rather  small,  always  ctenoid,  adherent; 
head  scaly,  or  not;  lateral  line  usually  present,  not  extending  on  the  caudal 
fin;  skeleton  osseous;  vertebrae  30  to  48,  the  anterior  ones  without  transverse 
processes ;  ventral  fins  thoracic,  1, 5 ;  2  dorsal  fins,  the  first  of  6  to  15  spines ;  anal 
spines  1  or  2,  the  usual  number  2;  caudal  fin  lunate,  truncate,  or  rounded;  no 
mesococracoid;  gill-membranes  separate  or  connected,  not  joined  to  isthums; 
branchiostegals  6  or  7;  pseudobranchisB  small,  glandular  and  concealed,  or 
wanting;  gill-rakers  slender,  toothed;  preopercle  entire  or  serrate;  opercle 
usually  ending  in  a  single  flat  spine ;  mouth  various,  terminal  or  inferior,  large 
or  small;  premaxillary  protractile,  or  not;  supplemental  maxillary  not  distinct; 
jaws,  vomer,  and  palatines  with  bands  of  teeth,  which  are  usually  villiform, 
but  sometimes  mixed  with  canines;  vomer  or  palatines  occasionally  without 


270  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

teeth;  lower  pharyngeals  separate,  with  sharp  teeth;  pyloric  caeca  few;  anal 
papilla  usually  more  or  less  developed;  air-bladder  small  and  adherent,  often 
wanting. 

Fresh  waters  of  cool  regions  of  the  northern  hemisphere, 
mostly  confined  to  eastern  North  America  and  Europe;  genera 
about  25;  species  about  125,  the  majority  of  them  small  and 
belonging  to  the  American  subfamily  of  Etheostomince,  or  darters. 
Besides  these  little-known  but  unusually  interesting  and  really 
beautiful  small  fishes,  of  which  we  have  23  species  in  Illinois, 
the  family  contains  three  of  our  best  known  and  most  highly 
valued  food  and  game  species — the  yellow  perch,  the  wall-eyed 
pike,  and  the  sauger.  Taken  together,  they  form  a  group  of 
highly  organized,  shapely,  powerful,  and  active  fishes,  thoroughly 
equipped  for  the  predatory  life,  and  filling  an  important  place 
in  the  ecological  system  of  our  inland  waters.  All  are  strictly 
carnivorous,  and  ranging  as  they  do  from  a  length  of  an  inch  or 
an  inch  and  a  half  for  the  least  darter  to  one  of  three  feet  for 
the  wall-eyed  pike,  they  are  able  to  inhabit  all  waters,  to  search 
all  situations,  and  to  draw  their  food  supplies  from  every  class 
of  aquatic  animals,  the  turtles  and  the  larger  and  heavier  mol- 
lusks  only  excepted.  On  the  other  hand,  although  they  are 
swift  swimmers,  and  well  armed  for  self-defense,  we  have  found 
them  frequently  eaten  by  other  predaceous  fishes,  as  well  as  by 
numbers  of  their  own  family — burbot,  black  bass,  bullheads, 
yellow  perch,  sunfish,  and  crappies  being  among  the  species  in 
whose  food  we  have  found  one  or  another  species  of  the  Percidce. 

KEY  TO  ILLINOIS  GENERA  OF  THE  FAMILY  PERCIDCE 

a.  Pseudobranchiae  well  developed;    branchiostegals  7;    no  anal  papilla;    fishes 

growing  to  a  weight  of  one  pound  or  more;   preopercle  distinctly  serrate 
below  and  behind,  the  lower  serrse  antrorse. 

b.  Canine  teeth  on  jaws  and  palatines;   body  subcylindrical,  elomgate,  greatest 

width  about  %  greatest  depth Stizostedion. 

bb.  No  canine  teeth;  body  moderately  compressed,  the  greatest  width  about  f 

of  its  greatest  depth Perca. 

aa.  Pseudobranchise  small  or  wanting;  branchiostegals  6;  anal  papilla  usually 

present;   small  species,  not  exceeding  8  or  9  inches,  usually  much  smaller; 

preopercle  entire  or  nearly  so. 

c.  Premaxillaries  not  protractile,  free  only  at  the  sides,  connected  in  front  with 

the  skin  of  the  forehead,  from  which  they  are  not  separated  by  a  cross 
groove. 

d.  Cranium  not  compressed  or  much  elevated  back  of  eyes,  its  elevation*   not 

more  than  %  of  its  breadth;*  body  as  a  rule  more  or  less  slender  and  little 


*  Measurement  of  breadth  and  elevation  is  made  from  a  point  just  behind  the  eye,  situated 
on  the  boundary  between  the  top  of  the  cheek  (marked  by  a  slight  bulge  outward  from  the 
cranium,  by  being  scaled,  or,  usually,  by  a  postorbital  pore)  and  the  thinly  and  smooth-skinned 
parietals. 


STIZOSTEDION — AMERICAN   PIKE-PERCHES  271 

compressed,  subcylindrical  or  fusiform;    depth  in  length  as  a  rule  6  or 
more;    spring-  males  ordinarily  without  red  or  other  gaudy  coloration. 

e.  Cranium  broad  between  the  eyes,  the  interorbital  space   4   to  4.7   in   head; 

snout  pig-like;  darters  of  large  size,  reaching  a  length  of  6  inches.  .Percina. 
ee.     Interorbital   space   narrower,   5.5   to  9   in   head;    small   fishes,   ordinarily   not 
over  4  inches  in  length. 

f.  Body  moderately  slender,  the  depth  as  a  rule  about  6  in  length  (sometimes  7); 

scales  not  often  over  70;  body  not  hyaline  in  life Hadropterus. 

ff.  Body  extremely  slender,  depth  7.8  to  9  in  length;  scales  89-100;  body  hya- 
line in  life;  back  crossed  by  4  broad,  obliquely-forward-directed  dark 
bands  Crystallaria. 

dd.    'Cranium  more  or  less  compressed  and  elevated  back  of  eyes,  n-shaped,  its 

elevation  as  a  rule  noticeably  more  than  %   (to  less  than  %)   its  breadth, 

(the  exceptions  being  species  with  spinous  dorsal  less  than  60  per  cent. 

height  of  soft  dorsal,  and  with  a  distinct  black  humeral  process  or  scale) ; 

fishes  with  usually  more  or  less  compressed  and  comparatively  shortened 

bodies,  the  depth  in  length  as  a  rule  less  than  6  (4%  to  6);   spring  males 

(except   in   species   with   low   spinous   dorsal)    usually   with   brilliant   red, 

blue,  or  green  coloration. 

g.     Lateral  line  present. 

h.     Lateral  line  not  noticeably  flexed  upward  anteriorly Etheostoma. 

hh.  Lateral  line  conspicuously  flexed  upward  anteriorly,  its  direction  parallel 
with  line  of  back  (least  distance  between  lateral  line  and  middle  of  back  in 
B.  fusiformis  about  %  depth  of  body  at  same  point) Boleichthys. 

gg.  Lateral  line  absent;  fins  very  short,  dorsal  spines  6;  size  very  small,  length 
not  over  1%  inches Microperca. 

cc.  Premaxillaries  protractile,  i.  e.,  a  groove  separating  them  from  the  skin  of 
the  forehead  (this  groove  sometimes  crossed  by  a  very  narrow  frenum  in 
Cottogaster  shumardi,  in  which  also  there  is  a  black  blotch  at  front  and 
back  of  base  of  spinous  dorsal). 

i.  Groove  bet-ween  skin  of  forehead  and  premaxillaries  ordinarily,  though  not 
always  (in  Illinois  species),  crossed  by  a  narrow  frenum;  a  black  spot  at 

front  and  back  of  base  of  spinous  dorsal Cottogaster. 

ii.     Premaxillaries  freely  protractile,   a  frenum  never  present;    no  black  blotch 

at  back  of  spinous  dorsal  fin. 

j.  Groove  separating  premaxillaries  from  forehead  inferior,  not  visible  except 
from  below;  maxillary  adnate  to  the  preorbital  for  most  of  its  length, 
nearly  immovable;  anal  spines  2 Diplesion. 

jj.  Groove  separating  premaxillaries  from  forehead  superior,  easily  visible  from 
in  front  and  above;  maxillary  separated  by  a  groove  from  preorbital  for 
its  entire  length;  anal  spine  single. 

k.  Anal  fin  much  smaller  than  soft  dorsal;  body  moderately  slender,  depth  not 
over  7  in  length;  not  hyaline  in  life Boleosoma. 

kk.  Anal  fin  almost  as  large  as  soft  dorsal;  body  extremely  slender,  depth  in 
length  8  to  10;  body  hyaline  in  life Ammocrypta. 


GENUS  STIZOSTEDION  EAFINESQUE 

AMERICAN    PIKE-PERCHES 

Body  elongate,  fusiform,  back  broad;  mouth  large  and  premaxillary 
protractile;  preopercle  serrated,  the  serrse  below  turned  forward  (antrorse) 
and  spaced  rather  wide  apart;  opercle  with  1  or  more  spines;  teeth  in  villiform 
bands,  in  addition  to  which  sharp  canines  are  present  on  jaws  and  palatines; 
pseudobranchise  well  developed;  pyloric  caeca  3;  dorsal  spines  12  to  15;  anal 
spines  2,  slender  and  closely  appressed  to  the  soft  rays;  scales  small,  ctenoid. 


272  fISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Large  carnivorous  fishes  of  the  fresh  waters  of  North  Amer- 
ica north  of  Mexico;  2  species  known.  Highly  valued  as  food, 
and  important  as  game  fishes,  but  very  costly  of  maintenance 
if  one  takes  into  account  the  numbers  and  kinds  of  other  fishes 
necessary  to  bring  one  of  these  pike-perch  to  maturity  and  to 
keep  it  in  good  condition  until  it  is  caught. 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  STIZOSTEDION  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Pyloric  caeca  3,  subequal,  as  long  as  stomach;  rays  of  soft  dorsal  19  to  22, 
usually  over  20;  cheeks  rather  sparsely  scaled;  base  of  pectorals  without 
distinct  black  blotch;  a  black  blotch  at  back  of  spinous  dorsal;  soft 

dorsal   obscurely    reticulated vitreum. 

aa.  Pyloric  caeca  5  to  8,  unequal,  the  4  longest  much  shorter  than  stomach;  rays 
of  soft  dorsal  17  to  19;  cheeks  as  a  rule  closely  scaled;  a  distinct  black 
blotch  at  base  of  pectoral;  last  dorsal  spines  without  black  blotch;  soft 
dorsal  with  rows  of  dark  spots eanadense.* 

STIZOSTEDION  VITREUM   (MITCHILL) 

WALL-EYED    PIKE;    PIKE-PERCH;   JACK-SALMON 
(MAP  LXXXII) 

Mitchill,  1818,  Supp.  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  II,  247   (Perca). 

G.,  I,  74  (Lucioperca  americana);   J.  &  G.,  525;   M.  V.,  135;   B.,  I,  54   (Lucioperca) ; 

J.   &  E.,  I,   1021;    N.,   36    (americanum   and  var.   salmoneum) ;    J.,   44;    F.   F.,   I. 

3,  32   (Stizostethium);   F.,  63;  L,.,  26. 

Length  3  feet;  body  slender,  only  moderately  compressed;  profile  long 
and  straight;  depth  4.3  to  5.2;  greatest  width  about  %  greatest  depth;  depth 
caudal  peduncle  2.3  to  2.6  in  its  length.  Color  a  brassy  olive-buff  ground, 
shading  to  olive-yellow  in  spots,  and  everywhere  mottled  with  black,  mot- 
tlings  on  head,  cheeks,  and  opercles  in  vermiculate  pattern,  those  on  back  and 
sides  arranged  more  or  less  definitely  in  five  large  irregularly-shaped  cross- 
blotches  with  smaller  blotches  between;  belly  whitish,  tinged  with  green;  iris 
chocolate  with  gold  margin  next  pupil;  cornea  milky,  giving  the  eye  its 
characteristic  muddy  or  "wall-eye"  appearance;  spinous  dorsal  with  a 
narrow  inky-black  margin  and  with  a  large  black  blotch  behind,  nearly  or 
quite  including  posterior  two  membranes;  soft  dorsal  reticulate  or  indis- 
tinctly barred;  base  of  pectoral  without  a  prominent  black  blotch,  an  in- 
distinct and  diffused  patch  of  dark  color  sometimes  present;  caudal  with 
indefinite  bars;  ventrals  and  anal  whitish  with  tinge  of  green.  Head  slender 
and  tapered,  less  depressed  than  in  next  species,  3.2  to  3.5  in  length;  width 
head  2  to  2.2  in  its  length;  interorbital  flat,  5.2  to  5.9;  eye  4.6  to  6;  nose  3.3 
to  3.8;  mouth  large,  terminal,  little  oblique,  maxillary  past  back  of  pupil, 
2.2  to  2.4  in  head;  lower  jaw  slightly  shorter  than  upper;  gill-rakers  slender; 
pyloric  caeca  3,  subequal,  as  long  as  stomach.  Dorsal  XIII  or  XIV,  19  to  22; 
longest  dorsal  spine  about  2^-  in  head;  caudal  lunate;  anal  II,  12-14;  ventrals 

*  Represented  in  Illinois  by  variety  griseum. 


STIZOSTEDION — AMEBICAN   PIKE-PERCHES  273 

half-way  to  vent;  pectorals  1.8  to  2.1  in  head.  Scales  12-14,  80-89,  19-25; 
lateral  line  usually  complete,  some  pores  occasionally  extending  on  caudal 
fin;  scales  on  cheeks  as  a  rule  sparse. 

Although  taken  by  us  but  thirty-nine  times  from  sixteen 
localities,  and  rare  except  in  a  few  favorable  situations  where 
the  water  is  clear  and  the  current  swift,  this  species  is  generally 
distributed  in  Illinois.  It  is  a  far-ranging  species,  of  predomi- 
nant northern  distribution,  occurring  from  Hudson  Bay  and  the 
Saskatchewan  River  through  New  Brunswick  and  New  England 
to  the  Potomac  and  north  Georgia,  and  westward  through  all 
the  Great  Lakes  and  the  Ohio  basin  to  Alabama  and  Minnesota. 
It  is  preferably,  however,  a  lake  fish,  and  is  most  abundant  in 
the  Great  Lakes,  particularly  in  Lake  Erie. 

It  is  essentially  a  piscivorous  fish,  but  also  feeds,  according 
to  Jordan  and  Evermann,  upon  crawfishes  when  in  shallow 
water.  Ten  specimens  examined  by  us  had  eaten  nothing  but 
fishes,  half  of  them  the  hickory-shad  (Dorosoma) .  Minnows  and 
sunfishes  were  also  noticed.  From  a  single  wall-eyed  pike  caught 
in  Peoria  Lake,  ten  specimens  of  gizzard-shad  were  taken,  each 
from  three  to  four  inches  long.  As  this  is  a  very  thin,  high  fish, 
with  a  serrate  belly,  these  were  about  as  large  as  a  wall-eyed 
pike  can  easily  swallow,  and  we  may,  by  a  very  moderate  esti- 
mate of  its  requirements,  conclude  that  at  least  six  hundred 
fishes  of  this  size  would  be  required  for  its  maintenance  during 
one  year.  Reckoning  the  average  life  of  a  pike  at  three  years, 
the  smallest  reasonable  estimate  of  food  for  each  pike-perch 
would  fall  somewhere  between  eighteen  hundred  and  three 
thousand  fishes,  and  a  hundred  pike-perch  such  as  should  each 
year  be  taken  along  a  few  miles  of  a  river  like  the  Illinois  would 
require  180,000  to  300,000  fishes  for  their  food.  Probably  no 
fish  in  our  streams  is  able  to  meet  so  tremendous  a  demand 
except  the  hickory-shad — so  abundant  in  the  food  of  this  pike — 
unless  the  European  carp,  generally  introduced  since  these 
observations  were  made,  may  be  an  equally  acceptable  victim. 
The  wall-eyed  pike  is  a  swift  and  vigorous  swimmer,  capable 
of  overtaking  a  black  bass. 

It  reaches  a  maximum  length  of  about  three  feet,  and  a 
weight  of  twenty-five  pounds,  but  examples  of  this  size  are  very 
rare.  According  to  Jordan  and  Evermann,  it  probably  does 
not  average  more  than  ten  pounds  in  the  Great  Lakes.  It 
prefers  clear  water  with  a  clean  and  hard  bottom,  and  is  not 
often  found  in  streams  or  lakes  with  a  bottom  of  mud.  In  the 


274  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Great  Lakes  it  lives  in  spring  and  summer  in  shallow  water 
near  the  shore,  seeking  a  greater  depth  in  fall.  It  is  much  the 
largest,  and  also  commercially  the  most  important,  of  all  the 
American  perches,  and  has  but  few  rivals  as  a  food  fish  among 
our  fresh-water  species.  Its  flesh  is  white  and  firm,  and  of  a 
flavor  to  satisfy  the  most  fastidious.  It  is  also  a  game  fish  of 
the  first  quality,  in  the  opinion  of  most  anglers,  and  but  little 
inferior  to  the  black  bass.  It  is  one  of  the  most  important  fishes 
propagated  by  the  United  States  Fish  Commission,  and  the 
output  in  1900  from  a  single  station,  that  at  Put-in-Bay,  was 
nearly  ninety  millions. 

The  catch  of  this  species  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  has  fallen 
off  greatly  in  recent  years,  amounting  to  only  210,000  pounds 
for  seventeen  states  in  1899,  whereas  in  1894  Minnesota  alone 
produced  651,000  pounds.  The  product  of  the  Illinois  River 
in  1899  was  11,000  pounds. 

The  pike-perch  is  said  to  spawn  in  April  in  Lake  Erie.  In 
1898  it  spawned  at  Havana,  on  the  Illinois  River,  between  April 
1  and  15.  The  eggs  are  small,  only  about  half  as  large  as  those 
of  thewhitefish,  and  the  young  begin  to  practice  their  carnivo- 
rous instincts  upon  each  other  when  only  about  ten  days  old. 
The  species  is  hardy  and  prolific,  and  it  is  a  desirable  fish  for 
clean  lakes  and  clear  rivers,  provided  these  contain  a  continuous 
abundance  of  otherwise  useless  fish  for  its  food. 

STIZOSTEDION  CANADENSE  GRISEUM   (DE  KAY) 

GRAY  PIKE;  SAUGER;  SAND-PIKE 
(MAP  LXXXIII) 

De  Kay,  1842,  New  York  Fauna:  Fishes,  19   (Lucioperca  gri-sea). 

J.  &  G.,  526  (canadense,  part);   M.  V.,  135;   B.,  I,  54  (Lucioperca  canadensis,  part); 

J.  &  E.,  I,  1022;  N.,  36  (griseum);  J.,  43  (canadense)  F.  F.,  I.  3,  31,  33  (Stizoste- 

thium);  F.,  63  (canadense);   K,  26  (canadense). 

Length  1  to  1J^  feet;  body  slender,  only  moderately  compressed,  the 
profile  straight  or  weakly  arched  predorsally;  depth  5.2  to  5.5;  greatest  width 
%  of  greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  2.4  to  3  in  its  length.  Color 
olive-gray,  the  sides  brassy  to  orange,  mottled  with  darker;  first  dorsal  with 
two  or  three  rows  of  large,  round,  inky-black  spots  as  large  as  pupil;  no  black 
blotch  at  back  of  spinous  dorsal;  soft  dorsal  with  4  or  5  irregular  rows  of 
rather  indistinct  dusky  blotches;  a  large  black  blotch  at  base  of  pectorals; 
caudal  yellowish,  barred  with  dusky.  Head  tapered  and  depressed  more 
than  in  last  species,  3.4  to  3.6;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2;  interorbital  space  4.6 
to  5.1;  eye  1  to  1.2;  nose  3.2  to  3.7;  maxillary  past  back  of  pupil,  2.1  to  2.2; 


PERCA — RIVER   PERCH  275 

gill-rakers  slender,  pyloric  cseca  5  to  8, 4  of  them  of  moderate  length,  but  shorter 
than  stomach,  the  others  mostly  rudimentary.  Dorsal  X  to  XIII  (usually 
XII  or  XIII),  17-19;  longest  dorsal  spine  about  2%  in  head;  caudal  lunate; 
anal  II,  11  or  12;  ventrals  half  way  to  vent;  pectorals  1.7  to  1.8  in  head. 
Scales  9-11,  85-91,  19-24;  lateral  line  usually  complete,  in  some  specimens 
extending  on  caudal;  cheeks  fully  scaled,  the  scales  very  strongly  ctenoid, 
rows  about  15. 

A  much  smaller  fish  than  the  preceding,  seldom  exceeding  a 
foot  or  eighteen  inches  in  length,  and  a  weight  of  one  or  two 
pounds.  It  has  also  occurred  much  less  frequently  in  our  collec- 
tions, which  have  come  mainly  from  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Illinois  rivers,  with  a  few,  also,  from  the  Rock,  the  Wabash,  and 
the  Kaskaskia.  It  seems  to  be  a  species  of  somewhat  more 
limited  range  than  the  wall-eyed  pike.  The  distribution  area 
of  our  variety  (griseum)  extends  from  the  Red  River  of  the  North 
and  the  Assiniboin  River,  through  the  upper  Great  Lakes  and 
the  upper  Mississippi  Valley,  west  to  Montana  and  south  to 
Tennessee  and  Arkansas.  Its  habits,  so  far  as  known,  are 
similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  species,  and  it  occurs  in  similar 
waters,  the  two  having  been  taken  together  by  us  in  about  the 
usual  ratio  for  river  and  lake  fishes. 

Judging  from  the  results  of  an  examination  of  fourteen 
specimens  obtained  from  the  Illinois  River  at  different  places 
and  times,  it  feeds  wholly,  or  almost  wholly,  on  fishes.  Four  of 
these  specimens  had  eaten  gizzard-shad,  two  had  taken  catfishes, 
one  of  which  was  a  bullhead,  two  had  eaten  sheepshead  (Aplodi- 
notus],  and  one  had  taken  a  black  bass  and  a  sunfish.  The 
presence  of  a  medium-sized  bullhead  in  the  stomach  of  one  of 
these  fishes,  wi$i  its  dorsal  and  pectoral  poison-spines  stiff-set 
and  unbroken,  was  a  striking  illustration  of  the  voracity  of 
this  species. 

It  is  of  much  less  commercial  importance  than  the  wall-eye, 
the  catch  from  the  Mississippi  River  in  1899  reaching  a  total  of 
only  39,000  pounds. 

GENUS  PERCA   (ARTEDI)   LINNJEUS 

RIVER   PERCH 

Body  oblong,  considerably  compressed,  back  elevated;  mouth  moderate; 
premaxillary  protractile;  preopercle  serrate,  the  serrse  on  lower  margin 
antrorse,  closely  set;  opercle  with  a  single  spine;  teeth  in  villiform  bands  on 
jaws,  vomer,  and  palatines;  no  canines;  pseudobranchise  small,  but  perfect; 


276  FISHES    OP   ILLINOIS 

pyloric  caeca  3  to  7;  dorsal  spines  12  to  16;  anal  with  2  slender  spines,  well 
separated  from  the  soft  rays;  scales  rather  small,  ctenoid.  Fresh  waters  of 
northern  regions ;  3  closely  allied  species,  one  each  in  Europe,  Asia,  and  North 
America. 

PERCA  FLAVESCENS   (MITCHILL) 
YELLOW  PERCH;  RINGED  PERCH;  AMERICAN  PERCH 

(MAP  LXXXIV) 

Mitchill,  1814,  Rep.  Fish.  N.  Y.,  18  (Morone). 

G.,  I,  59;   J.  &  G.,  524  (americana);    M.  V.,  134;    B.,  I,  48;   J.  &  E..  I,  1023;   N.,  36; 
J.,  43  (atnericana);  F.  F.,  I.  3,  29  (americana);  F.,  63  (americana) ;  L».,  26. 

Length  1  foot;  body  only  moderately  elongate,  considerably  compressed; 
back  elevated,  highest  in  front  of  spinous  dorsal;  the  profile  convex  from  first 
dorsal  spine  to  occiput,  thence  straightish  or  slightly  concave  to  muzzle; 
depth  3.3  to  3.8;  greatest  width  of  body  about  '%  of  its  depth;  depth  caudal 
peduncle  2  to  2.2  in  its  length.  Color  of  sides  and  back  brassy  green  to 
golden  yellow,  with  seven  broad  bars  of  dusky  crossing  each  side  from  back 
nearly  to  belly;  belly  whitish  with  reflections  of  green,  salmon,  and  yellow; 
iris  brassy  at  edge ;  spinous  dorsal  gray,  usually  with  a  black  spot  on  last  two 
membranes;  soft  dorsal  and  caudal  plain  green;  pectorals  transparent  grayish 
green;  ventrals  and  anal  variously  light  grayish  green  or  orange  to  crimson 
according  to  season  and  habitat.  Head  3  to  3.5;  width  head  1.8  to  2.1  in 
length;  interorbital  space  nearly  flat,  3.8  to  4.3;  eye  1.1  to  1.4  in  interorbital, 
4.5  to  5.5  in  head;  nose  3.4  to  3.7,  longer  than  eye;  maxillary  to  middle  of 
orbit,  2.4  to  2.8;  opercle  ending  above  in  several  coarse  jagged  points;  pre- 
opercle  strongly  serrate,  especially  below;  gill-rakers  X  +  15,  the  longest 
more  than  half  length  of  branchial  filaments;  pyloric  caeca  3.  Dorsal  XII  to 
XIV-II  or  III,  12  to  13;  longest  spine  a  little  more  than  2  in  head;  length 
base  of  soft  dorsal  about  %  base  of  spinous;  caudal  lunate;  anal  II,  7-8; 
ventrals  more  than  half-way  to  vent;  pectorals  1.6  to  1.9  in  head.  Scales  6 
or  7,  57-62,  15-18;  lateral  line  nearly  or  quite  complete;  cheeks  scaled,  in 
about  8  to  10  rows. 

This  is  one  of  the  best-known  fishes  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  state,  swarming  especially  along  the  piers  on  the  lake  front 
at  Chicago,  where  it  is  the  common  game  of  the  local  fishermen. 
It  occurs  elsewhere  in  Illinois  mainly  in  the  upland  lakes  of  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  state,  in  the  tributary  streams  flowing 
into  Lake  Michigan,  and  in  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers 
as  far  south  as  Meredosia.  It  is  virtually  unknown  in  the 
southeastern  half  of  the  state,  and  has  never  once  been  taken  by 
us  in  any  of  the  streams  of  the  Wabash  or  Kaskaskia  systems, 
or  from  any  of  those  farther  south.  It  is  inconstant  in  its  abun- 
dance in  the  Illinois  River,  and  is  said  to  have  increased  greatly 
there  since  the  opening  of  the  drainage  canal  has  cooled  and 
cleared  the  waters  of  that  stream. 


PERCA — RIVER   PERCH  277 

Its  general  distribution  is  decidedly  northerly,  except  on  the 
Atlantic  coast,  where  it  has  been  found  as  far  south  as  the  Neuse 
River  in  North  Carolina.  It  occurs  abundantly  in  the  Hudson 
and  in  all  the  Great  Lakes,  and  ranges  throughout  Quebec  and 
New  England  to  Nova  Scotia,  westward  to  Iowa  and  the 
Dakotas,  and  north  to  the  Red  River  basin.  It  is  unknown 
from  southern  Indiana  and  southern  Ohio,  as  it  is  from  southern 
Illinois. 

It  is  essentially  a  lake  fish,  but  occurs  also  in  running 
streams,  most  abundantly  in  the  larger  rivers  and  least  so  in 
creeks.  Our  eighty-three  collections  have  been  taken  with 
approximately  equal  frequency  from  the  glacial  lakes,  the  lakes 
of  the  bottom-lands,  and  the  rivers  of  the  largest  class.  It  is 
wholly  carnivorous,  but  differs  greatly  in  its  food  according  to 
the  situation  from  which  it  comes.  Eighteen  river  specimens, 
for  example,  had  made  but  6  per  cent,  of  their  food  of  fishes, 
about  a  fifth  of  it  of  the  smaller  thin-shelled  mollusks,  a  fourth 
of  it  of  insect  larvae,  and  nearly  half  of  it  of  Crustacea — craw- 
fishes, fresh-water  shrimps  (Palcemonetes) ,  amphipods,  and 
isopods — while  a  dozen  lake  specimens,  on  the  other  hand,  had 
eaten  nothing  but  fishes  and  crawfishes,  the  former  greatly 
preponderating.  The  perch  is  said  by  Cole  to  eat  the  spawn  of 
other  fish.  There  is  a  notable  difference,  also,  between  the 
lake  and  river  perch  in  respect  to  their  coloration,  the  latter 
being  usually  much  the  more  brilliant. 

The  yellow  perch  may  reach  a  length  of  a  foot  and  a  weight 
of  more  than  two  pounds,  but  does  not  commonly  weigh  much 
more  than  a  pound.  It  spawns  in  spring,  usually  during  April 
and  May,  when  the  temperature  of  the  water  is  from  44°  to 
49°  F.  Ripe  males  were  taken  by  Craig  at  Havana  on  May  3, 
1899.  According  to  Dr.  C.  C.  Abbott,  the  sexes  go  in  pairs  to 
the  spawning  beds,  which  are  selected  near  shore  where  there 
is  a  sandy  or  pebbly  bottom.  The  eggs  are  laid  in  flat  bands, 
and,  after  fertilization  and  " water  hardening,"  they  increase 
greatly  in  size.  A  single  adult  deposited  in  the  aquarium  of 
the  Washington  station  of  the  United  States  Fish  Commission 
a  string  of  eggs  88  inches  long,  which,  after  fertilization,  weighed 
41  ounces. 

This  perch  is  taken  in  fykes,  gill-nets,  and  traps,  or  with 
seines  and  hooks.  It  is  one  of  the  very  best  of  our  fishes  for  a 
pan  fry,  the  flesh  being  white,  firm,  and  of  an  excellent  flavor, 
better,  however,  in  northern  localities  than  in  southern. 


278  FISHES   OP   ILLINOIS 

The  catch  of  perch  from  Lake  Michigan  in  1899  was  over 
three  million  pounds,  of  which  677,000  pounds  came  from  the 
Illinois  shore.  In  the  Illinois  River  it  is  taken  in  considerable 
numbers,  but  mostly  by  line-fishing.  "As  a  game  fish,  the 
yellow  perch  can  be  commended  chiefly  on  account  of  the  fact 
that  anybody  can  catch  it.  It  can  be  taken  with  hook  and  line 
any  month  in  the  year,  and  with  any  sort  of  bait, — grasshoppers, 
angleworms,  grubs,  small  minnows,  pieces  of  mussel,  or  pieces 
of  fish;  and  it  will  even  rise,  and  freely,  too,  on  occasion,  to  the 
artificial  fly;  *  *  *  It  is  easily  taken  through  the  ice  in 
winter,  when  small  minnows  are  the  best  bait."  A  State 
Laboratory  assistant  some  years  ago  made  an  experiment  at 
simple  and  inexpensive  fishing  for  the  yellow  perch  from  a  pier 
at  South  Chicago.  With  a  piece  of  lath  for  a  pole,  a  line  of  cotton 
twine,  a  small  hook,  and  a  bit  of  pork  for  his  first  bait,  he  caught 
a  single  perch,  cut  this  up  as  bait  for  others,  and  within  an 
hour  had  a  string  of  seventy-five. 

SUBFAMILY  ETHEOSTOMIN/E 

THE   DARTERS 

The  darters  have  long  been  a  favorite  group  with  students 
of  American  fishes.  Peculiar  to  this  country,*  in  which  the 
subfamily  has  a  great  development,  interesting  in  their  variety, 
their  habits,  and  their  relations  to  nature,  and  especially  attrac- 
tive by  reason  of  their  graceful  forms,  their  relatively  minute 
size,  their  brilliant  coloration,  and  the  exquisite  detail  and  finish 
of  their  structural  equipment,  they  are  to  the  fishes  of  North 
America  what  the  hummingbirds  are  to  South  American  birds. 
They  seem  not  to  be  so  much  dwarfed  as  concentrated  fishes, 
each  embodying  in  small  space  all  the  complexity,  spirit,  and 
activity  of  a  perch  or  a  wall-eyed  pike. 

As  a  group,  they  are  most  likely  to  be  found  in  compara- 
tively swift  and  rocky  streams,  being  especially  adapted  to  these 
situations  by  their  small  size,  their  large  paired  fins,  their  pointed 
heads,  and  their  habit  of  resting  on  the  bottom  or,  in  some  cases, 
of  burying  themselves  in  sand, — all  of  which  are  means  of 
maintaining  themselves  in  swift  currents,  and  of  securing  from 
among  and  under  stones  the  insect  larvae  and  crustaceans  on 

*  Small  percoids  of  Europe  belonging  to  the  genus  Aspro  and  found  in  the  Danube  are  of 
larger  size  than  the  American  darters,  and  are  thought  by  most  writers  to  have  been  indepen- 
dently derived  from  European  percoid  stock,  and  not  to  be  genetically  related  to  the  American 
Etheostomince. 


ETHEOSTOMIISLE — THE   DARTERS  279 

which  they  mainly  depend  for  food.  They  swim  mainly  by 
means  of  their  pectoral  fins,  making  quick  dashes  in  the  current 
as  a  bird  might  make  a  short,  rapid  flight  against  a  high  wind, 
and  resting  in  the  intervals  upon  their  extended  ventral  and  anal 
fins.  Unlike  most  of  the  taxonomic  groups  we  have  hitherto 
discussed,  the  darters  thus  form  a  rather  definite  ecological 
assemblage,  assimilated  by  their  like  adaptive  characters  and 
by  their  similar  relations  to  like  situations.  There  are,  never- 
theless, well-marked  degress  of  adaptation  among  the 'different 
genera  and  species;  and,  likewise,  in  the  strictness  of  their  con- 
finement to  the  class  of  situations  characteristic  of  the  group. 
Three  of  our  species,  for  example,  are  often  found  in  still  or 
sluggish  waters  and  over  a  muddy  bottom;  one,  the  sand-darter, 
is  much  the  commonest  in  streams  with  a  sandy  bottom;  and 
another,  Cottogaster  shumardi,  is  most  abundant  along  the  borders 
of  the  largest  rivers.  The  species  are  likewise  distinguishable  in 
other  features  of  their  local  distribution,  as  may  be  readily  seen  by 
a  comparison  of  the  distribution  maps  of  the  darters  in  the  atlas 
accompanying  this  report.  The  force  of  competition  is  thus  more 
or  less  broken  among  them  in  various  ways,  no  exact  analysis 
of  which  has  ever  been  attempted.  The  origin  of  these  species 
is  an  interesting  and  inviting  problem,  particularly  open  to 
solution  because  of  the  comparatively  restricted  range  of  the 
family  and  the  fact  that  there  is  nothing  to  suggest  an  extensive 
migration  from  the  place  of  their  original  differentiation. 

The  food  of  the  subfamily  was  studied  by  the  senior  author 
many  years  ago  from  the  contents  of  seventy  stomachs  repre- 
senting fifteen  species,  collected  in  various  parts  of  Illinois  in 
several  months  of  four  successive  years.  These  indicated  more 
than  their  number  would  imply,  since  different  darters  obtained 
from  the  same  locality  and  on  the  same  day  usually  agreed  so 
closely  in  food  that  the  study  of  from  two  to  five  specimens 
gave  all  the  facts  obtainable  from  several  times  as  many. 
Furthermore,  the  differences  between  the  related  species  in 
respect  to  food  are  so  slight  that  specific  peculiarities  were 
scarcely  recognizable.  The  data  obtained,  therefore,  really 
apply  to  the  food  of  the  whole  subfamily  at  different  seasons  in 
twenty-nine  localities  within  this  state.  This  was,  on  the  whole, 
remarkably  uniform,  except  that  two  of  the  species,  the  largest 
and  the  smallest  of  the  group,  were  found  to  differ  from  the 
remainder  in  a  way  to  correspond  to  a  notable  difference  in 
their  local  distribution. 


280  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Briefly  described,  the  typical  species  feed  on  insect  larvae 
commonly  abundant  on  the  bottoms  of  streams,  under  or  among 
stones,  and  in  other  similar  situations,  the  smaller  species  eating 
mainly  dipterous  larvae  (most  commonly  Chironomus) ,  together 
with  a  smaller  proportion  of  neuropterous  larvae  of  the  smaller 
sizes;  while  the  larger  darters  eat  essentially  the  same  kinds  of 
food,  but  in  different  ratios,  the  neuropterous  larvae  being  of 
larger  average  size  and  also  making  a  larger  part  of  the  food. 
The  two  exceptional  species  studied,  Percina  caprodes  and 
Microperca  punctulata,  have  deserted  in  great  measure  the  usual 
situations  of  the  darters,  and  are  frequently  found  among  weeds 
and  algae  in  comparatively  quiet  water  with  a  muddy  bottom, 
the  others  being  much  more  closely  confined  to  swift  and  rocky 
shallows.  Consistently  with  this  difference,  these  two  widely 
unlike  species  agree  in  their  choice  of  food,  which  in  both  consists 
largely  of  Entomostraca  or  other  small  crustaceans.  The  larger 
species  had  also  eaten  a  few  small  mollusks  (Ancylus) . 

Where  a  group  of  species  has  become  assimilated  by  a 
similar  adaptation  to  a  common  class  of  situations,  and  has 
thus  become  a  definite  ecological  assemblage,  those  in  which  the 
adaptive  processes  have  gone  farthest  are,  of  course,  most  likely 
to  be  limited  to  the  characteristic  situation — are  most  likely, 
consequently,  to  be  taken  by  the  collector  in  each  others'  com- 
pany. By  applying  this  rule  to  an  analysis  of  the  collections 
of  darters  made  in  Illinois,  we  find  that  the  most  typical  species 
obtained  by  us  in  any  considerable  number  are  the  .following 
six,  mentioned  in  the  order  of  the  relative  frequency  of  their 
associate  occurrence  in  our  collections:  Hadropterus  phoxo- 
cephalus,  Etheostoma  zonale,  Etheostoma  flabellare,  Hadropterus 
aspro,  Ammocrypta  pellucida,  and  Etheostoma  coeruleum.  Ap- 
parently the  least  stringently  connected  with  their  kind  by  the 
associative  relationship  are  Diplesion  blennioides,  Etheostoma 
jessice,  Boleosoma  camurum,  and  Boleichthys  fusiformis.  The 
species  of  the  second  list  will  presently  be  seen  to  be  those  which 
have  wandered  widely  from  the  common  field  of  the  subfamily, 
and  which  are  consequently  found  most  frequently  in  situations 
to  which  the  other  species  rarely  resort.  Furthermore,  in 
separating  themselves  from  their  fellows  in  respect  to  local 
distribution,  they  have  not,  as  a  rule,  approached  each  other, 
but  remain  as  loosely  affiliated  ecologically  among  themselves 
as  they  are  with  the  more  typical  members  of  the  group.  A 
notable  exception  to  this  statement  is  found  in  Boleosoma 


PERCIXA — LOG-PERCHES  281 

camurum  and  Boleichthys  fusiformis,  which  occur  in  similar 
waters,  and  most  abundantly  also  in  the  same  part  of  the  state. 
In  these  two  common  species  the  coefficient  of  association  each 
with  the  other  is  unusually  high,  much  higher,  indeed,  than  the 
average  coefficient  for  the  most  typical  species  of  the  subfamily. 

The  darters  are  distributed  through  southern  Canada  and 
the  United  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  northern 
Mexico;  as  far  westward  as  south  Nebraska;  and  northward  to 
Qu'Appelle,  in  the  basin  of  the  Red  River  of  the  North.  There 
are  some  eighty  or  ninety  species  of  this  subfamily  in  North 
America,  and  in  Illinois  twenty-three  species  belonging  to  ten 
genera.  The  majority  of  them  are  less  than  four  inches  long, 
and  one  of  them  does  not  exceed  an  inch  and  a  half.  The  name 
of  " darter"  is  given  them  because  of  their  quick,  swift  flights 
through  the  water,  a  fact  which  also  suggested  to  Rafinesque 
the  technical  name  of  one  of  the  early  genera  described  by  him 
— Boleosoma,  meaning  dart-body.  To  the  fisherman  and  the 
ordinary  observer  these  little  percoids  are  usually  either  wholly 
unknown  or  go  by  the  general  name  of  minnow,  or,  perhaps,  by 
the  more  appropriate  one  of  "perch  minnow."  They  are,  as  a 
rule,  brilliantly  colored,  and  sexual  color-differences  are  strongly 
marked  in  many  species,  the  females  being  duller  than  the  males. 

The  species  are  much  subject  to  local  variation,  but  they  are 
nevertheless  commonly  well  marked,  and  the  local  forms  can 
usually  be  referred,  without  much  difficulty,  to  the  specific 
group.  All  spawn  in  spring,  so  far  as  known. 

GENUS  PERCINA  HALDEMAN 

LOG-PERCHES 

Body  elongate,  sybcylindrical;  mouth  small  and  inferior;  premaxillaries 
not  protractile;  teeth  on  vomer  and  palatines;  belly  with  a  median  row  of 
enlarged  caducous  plates;  vertebrae  (P.  caprodes)  44  (23  +  21);  pyloric  caeca 
(P.  caprodes)  6;  pseudobranchia?  present,  rudimentary.  In  the  diagnostic 
features  above  noted  this  genus  is  scarcely  different  from  Hadropterns.  On 
the  cranial  characters  of  Percina,  which  in  its  skull  structure  more  closely 
resembles  Perca  than  do  the  other  etheostomids,  Jordan  and  Eigenmann 
have  said:  "As  compared  with  the  other  darters,  the  skull  of  Percina  is 
much  broader  between  the  eyes;  the  parietal  bones  are  more  strongly  ridged, 
the  sutures  more  distinct,  the  top  of  the  cranium  beyond  the  eyes  more  de- 
pressed, and  the  supraoccipital  crest  more  developed  than  in  most  of  the 
others.  "*  The  largest  of  the  darters ;  coloration  olivaceous,  with  dark  vertical 
bands  on  body,  more  or  less  broken  into  spots  and  reticulations;  species  2. 

.  *Proc.  I'.  S.  Xat.  Mus.,  Vol.  8,  p.  68. 
—27   F 


282  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

PERCINA  CAPRODES    (EAFIXESQUE) 

LOG-PERCH 
(MAP  LXXXY) 

Rafinesque,  1818,  Amer.  Month.  Mag.,  534   (Sciaena). 

J.   &   G.,  499;    M.  V.,  126;    B.,  I,  57;    J.   &   E.,   1026;    N.,  36;    J.,  39;    F.,   65;    F.   F.,   I. 
3,  25;  L...  26. 

The  largest  of  our  darters,  length  4  to  6  inches;  body  cylindrical,  elongate; 
depth  5.4  to  7  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body  about  %  of  its  greatest 
depth;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  2.6  to  2 .9  in  its  length.  Color  olive-buff  to 
yellowish;  sides  of  adults  crossed  by  from  30  to  40  bars  of  dark  green  color, 
varying*  in  width  and  in  extent  from  above  downward,  the  most  usual 
arrangement  being  an  alternation  of  short  and  narrow  with  wider  and  longer 
ones,  the  merging  of  bars  producing  in  some  older  specimens  a  more  or  less' 
reticulated  pattern  on  the  sides  and  forming  on  the  back  3  or  4  large  saddle- 
like  blotches;  fewer  bars  (15  to  30)  in  younger  specimens,  the  intermediate 
narrower  and  shorter  ones  being  faint  or  entirely  absent  in  the  very  young; 
a  small  but  prominent  black  spot  at  base  of  caudal  fin,  encircled  by  a  band 
of  yellow;  snout  dusky;  cheeks  with  iridescent  green,  blue,  and  yellow;  iris 
with  golden  margin;  dorsal  and  caudal  fins  barred,  other  fins  plain.  Head 
3.9  to  4.3  in  length,  long  and  pointed;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.2;  interorbital 
space  flat  or  slightly  concave,  4  to  4.8  in  head;  eye  high,  obliquely  set,  its 
long  diameter  3.6  to  4.2  in  head;  snout  long,  conic,  with  a  pad  at  its  tip,  2.8 
to  3.3  in  head;  mouth  small,  inferior,  overhung  by  the  pig-like  snout,  max- 
illary reaching  scarcely  to  posterior  nostril-opening;  cleft  3.4  to  4  in  head; 
lower  jaw  much  shorter  than  upper;  gill-membranes  narrowly  connected, 
distance  from  tip  of  snout  to  their  angle  scarcely  greater  than  to  back  of 
orbit.  Dorsal  fin  XII-15;  spinous  and  soft  portions  usually  very  little  sepa- 
rated, or  not  at  all;  height  of  first  dorsal  2  to  2.3  in  head,  of  second  1.6  to  2.2 
(height  of  first  74  to  94  per  cent,  of  second);  caudal  truncate;  anal  II,  10-11 
pectorals  1.2  to  1 .4  in  head;  separation  of  ventrals  about  equal  to  their  width 
at  base.  Scales  9-11,  83-93,  12-14;  lateral  line  usually  complete,  as  many 
as  1  to  6  pores  occasionally  lacking;  cheeks  and  opercles  fully  scaled;  nape 
of  typical  specimens  fully  scaledf;  breast  naked;  belly  with  deeply  embedded 
scales  and  a  median  row  of  rather  small  pectinate  caducous  plates. 

Sexual  differences  not  marked.  The  majority  of  our  specimens  are 
young,  and  no  gravid  females  appear  among  them.  Testes  were  large  and 
white  in  males  taken  on  the  12th  of  June  1901. 

The  darter  is  distributed  through  the  state  from  Cairo 
to  South  Chicago  and  the  northeastern  glacial  lakes,  mainly, 
however,  in  the  larger  streams.  We  have  found  it  relatively 
most  abundant  in  medium-sized  rivers,  and  next  so  in  creeks, 
its  frequency  coefficients  for  such  streams,  as  represented  by  our 

*  For  an  interesting  paper  on  variation  in  the  color  pattern  of  this  species  see  W.  J.  Moenk- 
haus,  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  28,  pp.  641-660. 

t  Naked  in  var.  zebra  Agassiz  (Jordan  and  Evermann,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  47,  I., 
p.  1027).  Some  apparent  specimens  of  that  form  were  taken  in  Illinois  in  early  collections  by 
the  senior  author. 


HADROPTERUS — BLACK-SIDED   DARTERS  283 

seventy  collections  of  the  species,  being  2.26  and  1.6  respectively. 
In  the  larger  rivers,  on  the  other  hand,  and  in  lakes,  ponds,  and 
sloughs,  it  is  much  less  common,  its  ratio  for  each  being  .58. 
It  is  decidedly  more  frequent  in  northern  Illinois  than  in  either 
central  or  southern.  It  is  not  particularly  choice  of  localities, 
and  enters  freely  'the  turbid  waters  of  the  lower  Illinoisan 
glaciation.  It  has  been  taken  several  times  along  the  banks  of 
the  Illinois  River,  and  from  bays  and  bottom-land  lakes  con- 
nected with  that  stream.  It  is  not  a  swift-water  species,  and 
has  but  little  in  its  habits,  food,  or  favorite  situations,  to  identify 
it  with  the  darters  at  large. 

Outside  Illinois  it  occurs  in  all  the  Great  Lakes,  in  Lake 
Champlain,  in  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  and  in  various  smaller 
streams  in  Quebec,  and  thence  southward  to  Virginia  and  the 
Ohio  basin,  westward  to  Kansas  and  Missouri,  and  southwest- 
ward  to  Alabama  and  Trinity  River  in  Texas. 

It  is  sometimes  taken  on  the  hook  with  a  worm  bait,  and  it 
is  probably  the  only  one  of  our  darters  definitely  known  as  an 
angler's  fish. 

This  species  is  particularly  changeable  in  color,  as  observed 
by  us  in  aquarium  specimens,  the  darker  tints  sometimes  deepen- 
ing to  black,  and  the  gold  and  emerald  complexion  of  the  cheeks 
and  opercles  becoming  extraordinarily  bright.  It  was  noticed 
that  the  lower  part  of  the  transverse  bars  would  sometimes 
blacken  independently  of  the  upper  part,  giving  an  appearance 
of  a  row  of  lateral  blotches  like  those  of  Hadropterus  aspro. 

A  third  of  the  food  of  eleven  specimens  was  found  by  us  to 
consist  of  crustaceans  (mainly  Entomostraca) ,  and  the  remainder 
of  insects,  the  latter  chiefly  Chironomus  larvae,  larvae  of  day- 
flies,  and  water-bugs  (Corixa). 

GENUS  HADROPTERUS  AGASSIZ 

BLACK-SIDED   DARTERS 

Body  rather  elongate,  compressed  or  not;  mouth  rather  wide,  terminal; 
premaxillaries  not  protractile;  teeth  on  vomer  and  usually  on  palatines; 
belly  with  a  median  series  of  enlarged  ctenoid  plates,  which  in  most  species 
fall  off  at  intervals,  but  are  persistent  in  some;  vertebrae  (four  species)  39 
to  42  (18  or  19  +  20  to  23);  pyloric  caeca  2  to  4.  Darters  of  more  or  less 
slender  and  graceful  form,  of  active  habits,  and  of  moderately  brilliant  color- 
ation; size  various,  some  species  reaching  a  length  of  6  to  8  inches,  others 
much  smaller;  species  11  or  12. 


284  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  HADROPTERUS  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Gill-membranes  not  broadly  united  at  isthmus,  distance  from  tip  of  snout  to 

angle  formed  by  their  union  scarcely  exceeding  that  to  back  of  orbit. 

b.  Color  pattern  transverse,  consisting  of  (1)  bars  or  bands,  or  (2)  of  blotches 

and  transversely  rather  than  longitudinally  arranged  marblings. 

c.  Sides  with  about  15  blotches,   some  of  them   extending  upward  and   down- 

ward so  as  to  form  ill-defined  bars;  cheeks  scaled evermanni. 

cc.  Sides  with  about  7  broad  transverse  bars,  extending  from  below  lateral  line 

on  one  side,  across  iback  and  down  on  other  side;  cheeks  naked evides. 

bb.  Color  pattern  longitudinal,  the  sides  marked  with  a  median  row  of  blotches 

or  a  moniliform  band,  above  which  are  longitudinally  disposed  marblings. 

d.  Scales  8-10,  64-70,  9-11;    cheeks  scaled aspro. 

dd.    Scales  6,  52-60,  6;   cheeks  naked ouachitae. 

aa.    Gill -membranes   united   at   isthmus    in   a   broad   curve,   least   distance   from 

muzzle  to  free  margin  of  gill -membranes  1%  to  1%  times  that  from  muzzle 
to  back  of  orbit. 

e.  Head  very  slender  and  snout  long  and  pointed,   1%   times   eye;    interorbital 

space  narrow,  its  width  twice  in   snout;    lateral  blotches  small  and  as  a 

rule  faint;   a  very  small  central  caudal  spot phoxocephalus. 

ee.  Head  and  snout  less  slender,  the  latter  equaling  eye;  interorbital  space 
•broader,  less  than  1%  times  in  snout;  sides  with  8  or  9  large  and  distinct, 
often  more  or  less  confluent,  dark  blotches;  base  of  caudal  with  3  dark 
blotches,  the  central  and  lower  spots  usually  more  or  less  merged. . scierus. 

HADROPTERUS  EVERMANNI  MOENKHAUS 

Moenkhaus,  1903,  Bull.  U.  S.  Fish.  Comm.,  Vol.  22,  397-398. 

Length  of  single  specimen  in  our  collection  3  inches;  body  stoutish,  only 
moderately  elongate,  and  very  little  compressed,  the  cylindrical  form  suggest- 
ingPerdna  caprodes;  depth  5.17  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body  about  % 
of  its  depth;  caudal  peduncle  short  and  stout,  its  depth  2.35  in  its  length. 
Color  (in  preservative)  light  olive  with  numerous  blotches  and  marblings; 
back  with  about  6  large  and  more  or  less  quadrate  dark  blotches;  sides  with 
13  or  14  blotches,  some  of  them  extending  upward  and  downward  so  as  to 
form  ill-defined  bars,  the  dark  markings  above  blotches  being  of  a  general 
transverse  rather  than  longitudinal  pattern  (as  in  H.  aspro) ;  first  dorsal  with 
membranes  dusky  at  base,  especially  toward  back  of  fin;  tips  of  last  rays  and 
membranes  dusky;  soft  dorsal  and  caudal  faintly  barred,  other  fins  plain; 
head  smoky  olive,  a  prominent  dark  vertical  streak  below  eye.  Head  rather 
short,  bluntly  conic,  4.08  in  length;  width  of  head  1.79  in  its  length;  in- 
terorbital space  flat,  5.76  in  head;  eye  oblique,  3.58;  nose  2.97;  mouth  moder- 
ate, the  maxillary  scarcely  reaching  to  orbit,  cleft  3.17  in  head,  lower  jaw  in- 
cluded; gill-membranes  noticeably  but  not  at  all  broadly  connected  at  isthmus, 
the  distance  from  muzzle  to  angle  about  1.1  times  that  to  back  of  orbit. 
Dorsal  fin  XIII,  14;  spinous  and  soft  portions  scarcely  separated;  height  of 
first  dorsal  1.7  in  head,  of  second  1.6  (height  of  first  91  per  cent,  of  second); 
caudal  truncate;  anal  II,  12;  pectorals  1.1  in  head;  separation  of  ventrals 
slightly  greater  than  their  width  at  base.  Scales  8,  69,  8  [12]*;  no  pores 
lacking;  cheeks  with  about  6  rows  of  rather  large  scales;  opercles  and  nape 
fully  scaled;  breast  naked;  belly  naked  anteriorly,  a  median  row  of  im- 
mature caducous  plates  behind. 

*  Number  in  brackets  is  count  to  middle  line  of  belly;  first  count  is  to  front  of  anal. 


HADROPTERUS— BLACK-SIDED   DARTERS  285 

Our  single  specimen  of  this  species  was  taken  at  Havana, 
Illinois,  in  the  summer  of  1897.  While  presenting  resemblances 
to  both  H.  aspro  and  P.  caprodes,  it  may  be  readily  distinguished 
from  both  by  its  different  color  pattern. 

Described  from  Lake  Tippecanoe,  Indiana. 

HADROPTERUS  PHOXOCEPHALUS  (NELSON) 

(MAP  LXXXVI) 

Nelson,  1876,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.  1,  35   (Etheostoma). 
J.  &  G.,  501   (Alvordius);    M.  V.,   127   (Etheostoma);    B.,  I,  63   (Percina);    J.   &  E., 
I,  1030;  J.,  39  (Alvordius);  F.,  65;  L.  27. 

Length  3  inches;  body  moderately  elongate  and  compressed;  form 
distinctive  among  darters  for  its  graceful  outlines,  the  back  gently  elevated 
and  the  anterior  portion  of  the  body  faultlessly  tapered  to  the  end  of  the 
slender  pointed  head;  depth  5.4  to  6.2  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body 
about  Y§  of  its  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.8  to  2.4  in  its  length.  Color 
yellowish  brown,  more  or  less  marbled,  blotched,  and  tessellated  with  darker, 
but  the  colors  generally  duller  than  in  H.  aspro;  sides  with  about  12  or  13 
more  or  less  indefinite  dusky  blotches,  sometimes  confluent  into  a  monili- 
form  band,  in  instances  fading  so  as  to  become  almost  imperceptible;  back 
with  tessellations  and  upper  portion  of  sides  with  marblings  of  dark  color, 
ordinary  examples  having  a  vermiculated  appearance;  first  dorsal  with  a 
broad  band  of  orange-red  across  its  middle  and  with  narrow  outer  edging  of 
pale  blue,  the  hues  much  more  brilliant  in  males  than  in  females;  second 
dorsal  and  caudal  faintly  barred;  other  fins  plain,  the  anal  and  ventrals 
dusky  in  males;  a  dark  band  from  front  of  orbit  through  nostril  to  end  of 
snout;  vertical  streak  below  eye  faint.  Head  long,  slender  and  quite  pointed, 
3.6  to  3.9  in  length;  width  of  head  2.1  to  2.4;  interorbital  space  extremely 
narrow,  6.7  to  7.9  in  head;  eye  3.8  to  4.5;  nose  pointed,  3.5  to  4  in  head; 
mouth  moderate,  maxillary  reaching  a  little  past  front  of  orbit,  the  cleft  3.4 
to  4  in  head;  jaws  nearly  equal;  gill-membranes  free  from  isthmus  and  broadly 
connected,  the  distance  from  muzzle  to  their  free  posterior  margin  1^  to 
1%  times  that  to  back  of  orbit.  Dorsal  fin  XII  or  XIII,  12-14;  spinous  and 
soft  portions  scarcely  separated  at  base;  height  of  first  dorsal  2.2  to  2.9  in 
head,  second  1.7  to  2.1  (height  of  first  70  to  88  per  cent,  of  second);  caudal 
slightly  emarginate;  anal  II,  8  or  9,  rarely  10  or  11;  pectorals  1.2  to  1.4  in 
head;  separation  of  ventrals  slightly  less  than  their  width  at  base.  Scales 
8-10,  64-69,  10-12  [12-18];  usually  no  pores  lacking;  cheeks  covered  with 
very  fine  scales,  in  14  or  15  rows;  opercles  and  nape  scaled;  breast  naked  or 
with  a  median  large  caducous  shield;  mid-ventral  line  with  small  caducous 
plates. 

This  modestly  colored  but  shapely  darter  is  distributed 
much  like  Percina  caprodes,  except  that  we  have  not  found  it  in 
the  northern  glacial  lakes,  and  that  it  is  dispersed  more  widely 
through  the  smaller  streams.  It  has  occurred  in  ninety-five  of 
our  collections,  most  abundantly  in  the  Illinois  basin,  but  fre- 


286  FISHES   OF  ILLINOIS 

quently  also  in  the  Rock  River  and  its  tributaries.  It  is  com- 
monest in  northern  Illinois  and  is  least  frequently  found  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  state.  Like  Percina  caprodes,  it  has  been 
taken  by  us  most  generally  from  the  smaller  rivers  (3.39)  and 
from  creeks  (1.59),  but  only  rarely  from  the  largest  rivers  (.4) 
or  from  lakes  or  sloughs  (.2).  It  is  preeminently  a  species  of 
swift  water  with  a  bottom  of  rock  or  sand,  94  per  cent,  of  our 
collections  coming  from  the  former  situation  and  90  per  cent, 
from  the  latter. 

It  is  further  reported  from  Ohio,  Iowa,  Kansas,  and  Missouri 
to  Kentucky,  Arkansas,  and  Oklahoma. 

Consistently  with  the  relatively  large  size  of  this  species, 
larvae  and  pupae  of  May-flies  were  found  by  us  to  predominate 
in  its  food,  including  one  of  the  largest  larvae  of  this  family 
(Hexagenid)  in  our  streams.  Larvae  of  dragon-flies,  a  small 
percentage  of  Chironomus  larvae,  and  water-bugs  (Corixa),  were 
the  other  elements  of  its  food. 

Females  greatly  distended  with  eggs  were  taken  by  us  June 
5,  1901. 


FIG.  68 


HADROPTERUS  ASPRO  (COPE  &  JOEDAN) 

BLACK-SIDED   DARTER 
(PL.    P.  285;  MAP  LXXXVII) 

Kirtland,  1839,  Journ.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  340  (Etheostoma  blennioides). 

Cope  &  Jordan,  1877,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Fhila.,  51  (Alvordius  aspro — substitute 
for  Etheostoma  blennioides  of  Kirtland,  the  name  blennioides  being  preoccu- 
pied in  Diplesion). 

J.  &  G.,  501  (Alvordius);  M.  V.,  127  (Etheostomp) ;  B.,  I,  59  (Percina);  J.  &  E.,  I. 
1032;  N.,  35  (Etheostoma  blennioides);  J.  39  (Alvordius  maculatus);  F.,  65; 
L.,  27. 

Length  3  to  4  inches;  body  elongate,  fusiform,  somewhat  compressed, 
less  cylindrical  than  in  Percina;  one  of  the  most  graceful  and  elegant  in  form 
and  color  of  all  the  darters;  depth  5.4  to  6.8  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body 
about  %  of  its  greatest  depth;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  2.5  to  3.3  in  its 


HADEOPTERUS — BLACK-SIDED   DARTEES  287 

length.  Color  of  midsummer  females  and  immature  males  yellowish  olive 
or  straw,  with  dark  blotches  and  mottlings;  back  with  about  8  quadrate 
spots,  between  which,  on  upper  portion  of  sides,  are  dark,  longitudinally 
disposed  marblings;  a  row  of  7  or  8  large  dark  blotches  along  middle  of  side, 
more  or  less  confluent,  and  sometimes  forming  a  continuous  moniliform  band, 
their  color  dark  bluish  olive  to  bluish  black;  belly  grayish  in  front,  darkened 
with  smoky  blue  posteriorly;  head  dark  olive,  with  a  darker  streak  before 
eye,  and  one  below  it,  directed  slightly  backward;  cheeks  and  opercles  olive, 
with  sprinkling  of  iridescent  coppery  and  emerald;  pupil  dead  black;  iris 
brownish  except  for  a  faint  narrow  gold  rim  next  to  pupil;  dorsal  and  caudal 
plainly,  pectorals  faintly,  barred.  Adult  males  in  breeding  color  with  entire 
body  more  or  less  smoky  or  dusky,  lacking  the  contrast  between  blotches  and 
interspaces  seen  in  females;  in  all  adult  males  the  spinous  dorsal  crossed  near 
its  base  by  a  broad  dark  band  and  both  the  caudal  and  anal  dusky.  Head 
pointed,  3.8  to  4  in  length;  width  of  head  1.8  to  2.2  in  its  length;  interorbital 
space  flat,  narrow,  about  %  of  eye,  5.5  to  6.7  in  head;  eye  nearly  round, 
3.4  to  4  in  head;  nose  bluntly  pointed,  3.6  to  4.1  in  head;  mouth  rather  large, 
the  maxillary  extending  past  front  of  orbit,  the  cleft  3  to  3.4  in  head;  lower 
jaw  very  little  shorter  than  upper;  gill-membranes  as  a  rule  not  noticeably 
connected*  at  isthmus,  distance  from  tip  of  snout  to  angle  and  to  back  of 
orbit  about  equal.  Dorsal  fin  XIII-XV,  11-14;  spinous  and  soft  portions 
as  a  rule  distinctly  separated  at  base;  height  of  first  dorsal  1.9  to  2.3  in  head, 
of  second  1.7  to  2  (height  of  first  82  to  94  per  cent,  of  second);  caudal  notice- 
ably emarginate;  anal  II,  8-11;  pectorals  1.1  to  1.3  in  head;  separation  of 
ventrals  about  equal  to  their  width  at  base.  Scales  8-10,  64-70,  9-11; 
lateral  line  nearly  straight,  usually  complete,  one  or  two  pores  sometimes 
lacking;  cheeks  and  opercles  covered  with  small  scales;  nape  naked  or  with 
embedded  scales;  breast  naked;  middle  line  of  belly  with  enlarged  caducous 
plates;  scales  of  body  markedly  ctenoid,  giving  this  fish  a  more  or  less  charac- 
teristic feeling  of  roughness. 

This  darter,  of  comparatively  plain  and  somber  colors,  is 
more  abundant  in  Illinois  than  H.  phoxocephalus,  but  is  similarly 
distributed,  differing,  however,  in  the  fact  that  our  collections, 
168  in  number,  have  come  much  more  generally  from  the  eastern 
part  of  the  state  than  from  the  western,  and  that  it  does  not 
occur  so  frequently  as  phoxocephalus  in  the  larger  rivers.  It  is 
about  equally  abundant  in  the  smaller  rivers  and  in  creeks,  but 
rarely  occurs  in  the  larger  rivers  or  in  bottom-land 'lakes  and 
ponds.  In  ecological  relations  it  also  closely  resembles  its  com- 
panion species  of  the  genus,  but  seemingly  has  a  less  decided 
preference  for  a  rapid  current  or  a  clean  bottom. 

It  ranges  somewhat  farther  northward,  its  area  of  distribu- 
tion extending  from  Manitoba  and  the  Great  Lake  region  to 
Arkansas.  It  is  especially  common  in  the  Ohio  Valley.  East- 

*  In  occasional  collections  of  this  species  we  meet  with  specimens  with  gill-membranes 
more  or  less  broadly  connected  (e.g.,  28187,  Salt  creek,  Logan  Co.).  These  specimens  do  not 
have  the  small  mouth  and  three  caudal  spots  of  H .  scierus. 


288  EISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

ward  it  is  reported  from  the  James  and  the  Roanoke,  westward 
from  Kansas  to  Dakota,  and  northward  from  Winnipeg  and  the 
Assiniboin. 

In  our  studies  of  its  food  we  were  not  able  to  distinguish 
any  differences  between  this  and  the  related  species,  and  the 
two  have,  indeed,  occurred  together  in  our  collections  one  and  a 
half  times  as  frequently  as  is  the  average  for  the  family. 

HADROPTERUS  OUACHITVE   (JORDAN  &  GILBERT) 

Jordan  &  Gilbert,  1887,  Proc.  TJ.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  49  (Etheostoma). 
J.  &  E.,  I,  1035. 

Length  2  inches*;  body  elongate,  little  compressed;  depth  in  length 
7.14;  depth  caudal  peduncle  3.07  in  its  length.  Color  (in  spirits)  strawish 
olive;  back  marked  with  7  or  8  rather  faint  roundish  to  quadrate  blotches; 
upper  portion  of  sides  splashed  with  W-  and  X-shaped  marks;  middle  of 
sides  with  8  or  9  large,  roundish,  and  more  or  less  confluent  dark  blotches; 
dorsals  faintly  barred;  general  aspect  much  as  in  young  of  H.  aspro,  from 
which  this  species  differs  markedly  only  in  its  larger  scales.  Head  slender, 
bluntly  pointed,  4.38  in  length;  width  of  head  1.78  in  its  length;  interorbital 
space  flat,  considerably  less  than  eye,  5.71  in  head;  eye  3.08;  nose  3.48; 
mouth  moderate,  narrow,  and  slightly  smaller  than  in  H.  aspro,  the  maxillary 
extending  to  front  of  orbit;  cleft  3.48  in  head;  lower  jaw  included;  gill-mem- 
branes scarcely  joined  at  isthmus,  distances  from  muzzle  to  angle  and  to 
back  of  orbit  equal.  Dorsal  fin  XI,  10;  the  two  portions  separated  by  a 
space  equal  to  width  of  eye;  height  of  first  dorsal  2.11  in  head,  second  1.6 
(height  of  first  75  per  cent,  of  second);  caudal  truncate;  anal  II,  8;  pectorals 
.96  in  head;  separation  of  ventrals  same  as  width  of  base.  Scales  6,  54,  6; 
lateral  line  complete;  cheeks  naked;  posterior  portion  of  opercles  with  3  or 
4  rows  of  rather  large  scales;  nape  and  breast  nakedf;  middle  line  of  belly 
naked.t 

Probably  present  in  Illinois  in  the  Wabash  basin,  being 
represented  in  our  collections  by  a  single  specimen,  3.5  cm.  in 
length,  taken  from  the  Wabash  River  at  New  Harmony,  Ind., 
on  April  28,  1900.  Originally  described  from  the  Saline  River, 
a  tributary  of  the  Washita,  at  Benton,  Ark. 

Here  described  from  one  specimen. 

HADROPTERUS  EVIDES   (JORDAN  &  COPELAND) 

Jordan  &  Copeland,  1877,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  51  (Alvordius). 
J.  &  G.,  503  (Alvordius);  M.  V.,  128  (Etheostoma);  J.  &  E.,  I,  1036;   N.,  36  (Etheos- 
toma); J.,  39  (Ericosoma);  F.,  65;  I*,  27. 

Differing  from  the  other  species  of  Hadropterus  chiefly  in  squamation 
and  color  pattern,  the  cheeks  and  nape  naked  and  opercles  with  caducous 

*  Specimens  3  inchefe  long  have  been  obtained  by  Dr.  Jordan  (Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.. 
1888,  p.  164). 

t  "Scaled"  (Jordan  and  Evermann). 

t  "Sometimes  with  caducous  plates"  (Jordan  and  Evermann). 


HADEOPTERUS — BLACK-SIDED   DARTERS  289 

scales.  "Coloration  extremely  brilliant;  *  *  *  sides  with  about  7  broad 
transverse  bars  extending  from  below  the  lateral  line  on  one  side,  across  the 
back,  and  down  on  the  other  side;  these  bars  wider  than  the  eye  and  con- 
nected along  lateral  line  by  a  faint  black  stripe;  *  *  *  spinous  dorsal 
with  a  dusky  spot  on  its  posterior  rays,  and  the  fins  destitute  of  the  dark 
bars  found  in  related  species"  (Jordan  and  Evermann). 

Represented  in  our  collections  by  a  single  specimen,  taken 
from  Rock  River  in  1877,  still  identifiable  but  in  poor  condition 
for  description.  Outside  of  Illinois  taken  in  the  Wabash  and 
Maumee  basins  in  Indiana,  and  west  and  southward  to  central 
Iowa,  Arkansas,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee,  "in  the  larger  clear 
streams." 


FIG.  69 

HADROPTERUS  SCIERUS  SWAIN 

Swain,  1883,  Proc.  TJ.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  252. 

M.  V.,  127  (Etheostoma);  B.,  I,  80  (Etheostoma);   J.  &  E.,  I,  1037. 

Length  of  our  specimens  2  to  2^  inches*;  form  and  appearance  of  H. 
aspro;  depth  6  to  6.7;  greatest  width  %  of  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle 
2.9  to  3.1  in  its  length.  Color  essentially  as  in  H.  aspro;  yellowish  olive,  with 
back  and  upper  part  of  sides  vaguely  blotched  with  black  in  longitudinal 
pattern,  and  with  a  median  lateral  row  of  8  or  9  large  and  more  or  less  confluent 
dark  blotches;  a  faint  central  caudal  spot  with  a  smaller  one  above  it  and  a 
larger  one  below,  the  central  spot  more  or  less  merged  with  the  lower  one; 
under  side  of  caudal  peduncle  with  small  dark  blotches;  suborbital  bar  want- 
ing entirely  in  our  specimens;  dorsals,  caudal,  and  pectorals  faintly  barred. 
Differs  from  H.  aspro  in  the  presence  of  3  caudal  spots,  the  lack  of  the  subor- 
bital bar,  and  in  the  blotching  of  under  side  of  caudal  peduncle.  Head 
pointed,  4  to  4.2;  width  of  head  2.1  to  2.4  in  its  length;  interorbital  space 
4.7  to  4.9;  eye  3.5  to  4.1;  preopercle  not  serrulate;  nose  3.6  to  3.8,  short; 
mouth  smaller  than  in  H.  aspro,  the  maxillary  scarcely  reaching  front  of  orbit, 
the  cleft  3.4  to  3.9  in  head;  lower  jaw  included;  gill-membranes  broadly  con- 
nected, the  distance  from  muzzle  to  free  posterior  margin  of  membranes 
about  1*4  times  that  from  muzzle  to  back  of  orbit.  Dorsal  fin  X  or  XII,  13; 
spinous  and  soft  portions  separated  by  a  distance  equal  to  width  of  eye; 
height  of  first  dorsal  2  to  2.2  in  head,  second  1.7  (height  of  first  79  to  85  per 
cent,  of  second);  caudal  lunate;  anal  II,  9;  pectorals  1.1  in  head;  separation 
of  ventrals  equal  to  or  a  little  greater  than  their  width  at  base.  Scales  7, 

*  "5  inches"  (Jordan  and  Evermann). 


290  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

64-67,  11  [15  or  16];  1  to  13  pores  lacking;  cheeks  and  opercles  fully  scaled; 
nape  scaled;  breast  naked  and  belly  closely  scaled. 

These  fishes,  though  bearing  a  great  general  resemblance 
to  H.  aspro  j  are  easily  distinguished  from  it  by  their  much  smaller 
mouth  and  united  gill-membranes*,  and  by  the  combination 
of  minor  color-marks  above  mentioned. 

Our  specimens  have  the  preopercle  smoothf,  as  in  H.  aspro. 

Described  from  2  specimens  taken  by  T.  L.  Hankinson  from 
the  Embarras  River  at  Charleston,  111.,  in  1904.  This  species 
was  described  in  1883  from  Bean  Blossom  creek,  Monroe  county, 
Ind.,  and  has  since  been  taken  in  various  localities  from  northern 
Indiana  to  Arkansas. 

GENUS  COTTOGASTER  PUTNAM 

Body  rather  robust,  not  much  compressed;  mouth  moderate  or  small; 
forms  intermediate  between  Hadropterus  and  Boleosoma,  having  the  pre- 
maxillaries  typically  protractile,  or  sometimes  (in  C.  shumardi)  connected 
with  the  skin  of  the  forehead  by  a  narrow  frenum;  teeth  on  vomer;  middle 
line  of  belly  naked,  or  with  caducous  scales;  vertebrae  (C.  copelandi)  38 
(18+20);  pyloric  caeca  3;  coloration  not  brilliant.  Darters  of  moderate 
size,  not  over  3  inches  in  length;  species  few;  one  known  from  Illinois. 


FIG.  70 


COTTOGASTER  SHUMARDI   (GIRARD) 

(MAP  LXXXVIII) 

Girard,  1859,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  100  (Hadropterus). 

J.  &  G.,  498  (Imostoma);   M.  V.,  126  (Etheostoma);   B.,  I,  92   (Boleosoma);   J.  &  E., 
I,  1046;   J.,  39  (Imostoma);  F.,  66;   L.,  27. 

Length  2^  to  3  inches;  body  stout,  little  compressed  except  posteriorly; 
depth  5.2  to  6.9  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body  usually  more  than 


*  See  note  on  H  .  aspro. 

t  "Preopercle  finely  serrated"  (Jordan  and  Evermann,  key  to  Hadropterus);  "prepopercle 
serrulate,  at  least  in  young  specimens"  (Jordan,  Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1888,  p.  165). 


COTTOGASTER  291 

its  greatest  depth;  caudal  peduncle  short  and  stout,  its  depth  2.1  to  2.6  in 
its  length.  Color  (in  preservative)  straw  to  brownish  olive,  densely  blotched 
and  marbled  with  darker;  sides  with  8  to  15  dark  blotches,  which  are  some 
times  obscure,  and  often  extended  below  lateral  line  as  bar-like  bands  on 
anterior  portion  of  body;  a  faint  dark  band  through  nostril  to  end  of  snout 
and  a  distinct  bar  below  eye;  second  dorsal  and  caudal  faintly  barred  in  the 
rays.  In  breeding  males  the  barring  of  second  dorsal  replaced  by  a  more 
or  less  uniform  dusting  of  both  rays  and  membranes  of  lower  half  of  fin; 
first  dorsal  with  a  small  black  spot  in  front  between  first  two  rays  and  a 
second  and  larger  one  at  the  back  of  the  fin,  usually  between  8th  and  10th 
rays.  Head  3.7  to  4  in  length,  little  tapered,  muzzle  blunt;  width  of  head 
1.7  to  2  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  flat,  5.5  to  6.4  in  head,  about  %  of 
eye;  eye  3.2  to  3.5;  nose  2.9  to  3.7;  mouth  moderate,  maxillary  to  front  of 
orbit,  cleft  2.9  to  3.2  in  head;  premaxillary  in  Illinois  specimens  as  a  rule 
connected  by  a  narrow  frenum  with  the  skin  of  the  forehead;  lower  jaw 
slightly  shorter  than  upper;  gill-membranes  free  from  isthmus  and  scarcely 
connected,  distances  from  muzzle  to  angle  and  to  back  of  orbit  about  equal. 
Dorsal  fin  IX,  or  XI,  13-15;  spinous  and  soft  portions  as  a  rule  very  little 
separated  at  base;  height  of  first  dorsal  1.7  to  2.2  in  head,  second  1.6  to  1.7 
(height  of  first  76  to  92  per  cent,  of  second);  caudal  noticeably  emarginate; 
anal  II,  10-12,  (usually  10  or  11);  pectorals  .9  to  1.3  in  head;  separation  of 
ventrals  as  a  rule  nearly  equal  to  their  width  at  base.  Scales  6  or  7,  50-56, 
7-9;  lateral  line  complete;  cheeks,  opercles,  and  nape  scaled;  breast  naked; 
belly  usually  naked,  sometimes  scaled  for  a  short  distance  in  front  of  vent. 

A  species  of  medium  size  and  relatively  obscure  coloration, 
notable  especially  for  its  extraordinary  local  distribution,  occur- 
ring, as  it  does,  almost  wholly  along  the  course  of  our  larger 
streams.  It  is  not  common  in  this  state,  having  been  taken  but 
sixteen  times  from  nine  localities,  six  on  the  Illinois,  one  on  the 
Wabash,  and  two  on  the  Kaskaskia.  Twice  it  was  taken  from 
the  deep  water  of  the  river  channel  at  Havana. 

It  occurs  also  in  the  Great  Lakes,  and  has  been  reported 
from  Erie  and  Michigan,  and  elsewhere  from  the  Ohio,  the  Red, 
and  the  Arkansas  rivers  of  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley.  Osburn 
says  that  it  is  found  in  Ohio  on  sandy  bottoms  in  rivers,  but 
not  in  small  streams. 

Females  with  eggs  were  taken  from  the  Illinois  River  on 
the  18th  and  the  20th  of  March,  1899. 


GENUS  DIPLESION  EAFINESQUE 

Body  rather  elongate,  little  compressed;  mouth  small,  inferior,  horizontal; 
premaxillaries  protractile  downward,  the  groove  not  visible  from  above  or  in 
front  as  in  other  darters,  but  only  from  underneath;  known  also  by  the  non- 


292  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

protractile  maxillary,  which  is  joined  for  most  of  its  length  to  the  skin  of  the 
front  of  the  preorbital;  no  teeth  on  vomer  or  palatines;  no  enlarged  ventral 
plates;  vertebrae  42  (19+23);  pyloric  caeca  4;  coloration  largely  green. 
Size  moderate,  3  to  5  inches;  a  single  species. 

DIPLESION  BLENNIOIDES   (EAFINESQUE) 

GREEN-SIDED    DARTER 
(MAP  LXXXIX) 

Raflnesque,  1819,  Journ.  de  Physique,  419   (Etheostoma   [Diplesion]). 
J.  &  G.,  497;   M.  V.,  125  (Etheostoma);   B.,  I,  100;   J.  &  E.,  I,  1053;   N.,  35   (Etheos- 
toma); J.,  40;  F.,  66;  L.,  27. 

Length  3  inches;  body  elongate,  neither  cylindrical  nor  (technically) 
compressed,  but  narrowed  dorsally  in  front  so  that  a  cross-section  of  the  body 
is  roughly  triangular;  back  somewhat  elevated  in  adults  and  profile  very 
convex;  ventral  outline  straight  or  slightly  concave;  depth  5.3  to  6.3;  greatest 
width  of  body  about  Y$  its  greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  2.6  to 
3.2  in  its  length.  Color  of  upper  parts  light  olivaceous,  paler  beneath,  the 
belly  a  light  creamy  white;  sides  marked  with  5  to  8  vertical  bars  of  rich 
dark  grassy  green  color,  these  continuous  with  dark  saddle-like  back  blotches;* 
below  lateral  line  a  row  of  Y-shaped  blotches,  sometimes  connected  so  as  to 
form  an  irregular  wavy  or  zigzag  band  of  rich  green;  20  to  50  small  rufous- 
orange  spots  scattered  along  sides  in  irregular  zigzag  lines,  each  spot  occupy- 
ing the  center  of  a  scale;  head  dark  olive-green,  mottled  with  darker  green, 
a  dark  green  band  passing  from  the  eye  downward  and  forward  around 
the  upper  jaw  and  a  similar  one  downward  to  a  short  distance  behind  the 
angle  of  the  mouth;  suborbital  bar  of  one  side  usually  extending  beneath 
chin  to  meet  the  bar  of  the  other  side;  cheeks  yellowish  green,  opercles  dark 
green;  head  pale  beneath;  pupil  black,  iris  with  some  gold;  spinous  dorsal 
with  a  band  of  rufous-orange  spots  at  its  base  occupying  about  lower  third 
of  fin,  which  is  tipped  at  outer  margin  with  a  narrow  edge  of  pale  blue;  second 
dorsal  with  row  of  orange  spots  fainter,  and  without  outer  blue  edging;  other 
fins  paler,  greenish;  females  with  orange  spots  at  base  of  spinous  dorsal  less 
brilliant,  and  with  these  spots  missing  on  second  dorsal.  Head  short,  irregu- 
larly pyramidal,  flat  and  broad  below,  4  to  4.6  in  length;  width  of  head  1.5 
to  1.9;  interorbital  space  narrow,  flat,  5.2  to  6.8  in  head;  eye  roundish,  high, 
and  somewhat  protruding,  3.1  to  3.6;  nose  3.1  to  3.7,  the  muzzle  much 
deeurved  and  projecting  beyond  the  inferior  mouth;  mouth  small,  inferior, 
horizontal,  maxillary  reaching  to  front  of  orbit,  cleft  3.1  to  3.6  in  head; 
lower  jaw  much  shorter  than  upper;  lips  rather  more  prominent  than  is 
usual  in  darters;  gill-membranes  connected  broadly  across  isthmus,  the 
distance  from  tip  of  snout  to  free  posterior  margin  of  membranes  being 
IK  to  \yi  greater  than  to  back  of  orbit.  Dorsal  fin  XIII-XIV,  13-14; 
spinous  and  soft  portions  joined  or  but  slightly  separated;  height  of  first 
dorsal  1.6  to  2.3  in  head,  second  1.4  to  1.6  (height  of  first  68  to  90  per  cent, 
of  second);  caudal  slightly  emarginate;  anal  II,  8  or  9;  pectorals  .8  to  .9  in 
head;  ventral  spines  and  first  4  or  5  rays  rather  fleshy  and  often  somewhat 

*  These  blotches  are  the  only  part  of  the  bars  usually  visible  in  preserved  specimens,  show- 
ing in  life  as  dark  pigmented  areas  under  the  green  of  the  bars. 


GREEN-SIDED  DARTER,  Diplesion  blennioides  (Rafinesque) 


-       '  - 


FAN-TAILED  DARTER,  Etheostoma  flabellare  Rafinesque 


DIPLESION  293 

knobbed  at  extremities;  separation  of  ventrals  less  than  their  width  at  base. 
Scales  6-8,  57-61,  7-9  [10  or  11];  lateral  line  nearly  straight  and  usually  com- 
plete, 1  or  2  pores  occasionally  lacking;  cheeks  naked  or  with  a  few  more  or  less 
embedded  scales;  opercles  and  nape  scaled;  breast  naked;  belly  with  ordinary 
scales. 

This  beautiful  and  peculiar  species,  distinguishable  at  a 
glance  by  its  remarkable  head,  large  prominent  eyes,  and  small 
inferior  mouth,  " giving  it  a  decidedly  frog-like  profile,"  and  by 
the  green  or  olive  zigzag  markings  on  the  back,  is,  in  its  breeding 
dress,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all  fresh-water  fishes.  "The 
dorsal  fins  become  bright  grass-green,  with  a  scarlet  band  at 
the  base;  the  broad  anal  has  a  tinge  of  the  deepest  emerald; 
while  every  spot  and  line  upon  the  side  has  turned  from  an 
undefined  olive  to  a  deep,  rich  green,  scarcely  found  elsewhere 
in  the  animal  world  except  on  the  backs  of  frogs.  The  same 
tint  flashes  out  on  the  branching  rays  of  the  caudal  fin,  and  may 
be  faintly  seen  struggling  through  the  white  on  the  belly.  The 
blotches  nearest  the  middle  of  the  back  become  jet-black,  and 
thickly  sprinkled  everywhere  are  little  shiny  spots  of  a  clear 
bronze-orange.  "* 

This  darter  has  an  almost  inexplicable  distribution  in 
Illinois,  if  we  may  judge  by  our  collections  of  it.  Taken  by  us 
in  thirty-six  localities  on  the  smaller  streams  of  the  Wabash 
system  in  this  state,  it  has  not  once  occurred  elsewheref  in  all 
our  sixteen  hundred  collections,  although  it  has  been  once 
taken  from  the  Des  Plaines  at  Joliet,  by  J.  H.  Ferris,  as  reported 
by  Fowler  in  1906.J  Its  general  distribution  is  not  such  as  to 
suggest  so  limited  a  range  in  Illinois,  occurring,  as  it  does,  from 
Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie  to  Pennsylvania,  North  Carolina,  and 
the  lower  Alabama  basin,  and  thence  to  South  Dakota,  Kansas, 
and  Missouri,  and  the  Red  River  in  Arkansas.  It  is  generally 
distributed  throughout  Indiana,  as  shown  by  the  details  of  the 
list  of  Professor  Hay,  who  reports  it  as  abundant  in  all  suitable 
streams.  This  is  one  of  the  groups  of  species  occurring,  in  Illi- 
nois, only  or  mainly  in  the  Wabash  drainage,  specially  discussed 
in  our  introductory  chapter  on  geographical  distribution.  It  is 
found  in  swift  water,  oftenest  on  rocky  ripples  where  there  is  a 

*  Jordan  and  Copeland,  American  Naturalist,  Vol.  X.,  p.  339. , 

t  The  indication  of  its  presence  at  Chicago  given  on  Map  VII.  of  an  article  on  the  local 
distribution  of  darters  (Bull.  111.  Stats  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VII.,  Art.  VIII.)  published  by  the 
senior  author  in  Apiil,  1907,  is  due  to  a  clerical  error  in  transferring  a  record  based  on  the  pres- 
servation  of  specimens  from  collections  on  exhibition  at  the  World's  Fair  in  1893. 

t  "Some  New  and  Little  Known  Percoid  Fishes."     Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila     Dec 
1906,  p.  522. 


294  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

vigorous  growth  of  algae;  and  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  pecu- 
liar color  of  this  fish  seems  to  assimilate  it  to  its  surroundings. 
Specimens  taken  from  the  Vermilion  in  Vermilion  county 
were  kept  by  us  for  several  weeks  alive  in  a  soft-water  aquarium 
aerated  by  compressed  air.  They  were  very  shy  and  easily 
frightened,  and  fell  into  a  panic  when  disturbed  by  a  sudden 
movement  in  the  room  or  by  a  jar  of  the  aquarium,  their  actions 
when  frightened — too  quick  for  the  eye  to  follow — stirring  up 
the  sand  and  gravel  on  the  bottom  and  so  clouding  the  water 
as  to  hide  their  retreat.  They  seemed  very  much  attached  to 
a  mass  of  algae  placed  in  the  aquarium  with  them,  lying  in  it 
by  the  hour,  and  they  were  frequently  seen  perched  on  a  pebble 
or  stone  by  means  of  their  ventrals,  with  the  body  inclined  at 
an  angle  of  30  to  45  degrees.  When  on  the  bottom,  the  body 
was  usually  curved  in  a  snake-like  position,  as  if  prepared  for 
a  quick  and  vigorous  stroke. 

GENUS  BOLEOSOMA  DE  KAY 

TESSELLATED   DARTERS 

Body  moderately  elongate,  subcylindrical;  but  slightly  translucent; 
mouth  small,  horizontal,  subinferior;  premaxillaries  protractile;  teeth  on 
vomer;  vertebrae  (B.  nigruni)  37  (15  +  22),  (B.  camurum)3S  (17  +  21);  py- 
loric  caeca  3  to  6;  belly  with  ordinary  scales;  plainly  colored,  usually  olivaceous 
with  black  or  brown  specks  and  with  no  red  or  blue;  spring  males  dusky  to 
jet-black.  Size  small,  2%  inches;  species  about  5. 

KEY  TO  SPECIES  OF  BOLEOSOMA  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.    Lateral  line  complete  or  nearly  so;  pyloric  cseca  6;  cheeks  and  breast  typic- 
ally naked,  sometimes  more  or  less  scaly nigrum. 

aa.    Lateral  line  absent  on  posterior  half  of  body;    pyloric  caeca  3;    cheeks  and 
opercles,  and  usually  breast,  closely  scaled cam u rum. 

BOLEOSOMA  NIGRUM   (RAFINESQUE) 

JOHNNY   DARTER 

(Pu,  P.  296;  MAP  XC) 

Raflnesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  37  (Etheostoma). 

G.,  I,  77   (Boleosma   maculatum);    J.   &  G.,  492;    B.,  I,  93;    J.   &  E.,  I,   1056;    N.,  35 
(brevipinne  and  olmstedi);   J.,  40   (maculatum  and  olmstedi);   F.,  66;   L..,  27. 

Length  2J/£  inches;  body  typically  slender,  subfusiform,  little  compressed; 
depth  4.7  to  6.9  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body  about  Y±  its  greatest  depth; 
depth  caudal  peduncle  2.5  to  3.3  in  its  length.  Color  of  back  and  sides  a  very 
pale  strawish  olive,  over  which  are  distributed  small  brownish  dots  and 
splashes  and  more  or  less  vaguely  W-,  X-,  and  V-shaped  markings,  part  of 
the  latter  forming  an  inde^finite  lateral  row, — rather  aptly  called  "sand- 


BOLEOSOMA — TESSELLATED  DARTERS  295 

paper"  darter  by  one  of  our  collectors;  back  finely  tessellated  with  dark 
brown  in  and  between  6  or  7  large,  but  sometimes  indistinct,  quadrate 
blotches;  sometimes  an  obscure  caudal  spot;  belly  in  life  translucent  pale 
greenish  to  dull  golden;  head  olivaceous  above,  with  dark  brown  specks;  a 
dark  streak  in  front  of  eye,  a  rather  broad  bar-like  blotch  behind  it;  lower 
part  of  cheek  very  pale  greenish;  opercle  olivaceous,  with  dark  spots  above; 
pupil  dull  black;  iris  with  a  narrow  rim  of  golden  next  to  pupil ;  dorsals,  caudal, 
and  pectorals  barred,  the  latter  only  near  base;  ventrals  and  anal  plain,  the 
anal  pale  whitish,  ventrals  of  a  creamy  to  strawish  hue.  Spring  males  with 
head,  and  with  first  dorsal,  anal,  and  ventral  fins  a  very  dark  bluish  black, 
and  rest  of  body  and  fins  more  or  less  clouded  with  same  color,  the  sides 
being  marked  with  8  or  9  bars  of  darker  color,  the  bars  indistinct  in  some 
specimens  and  in  instances  wholly  submerged  in  an  almost  uniform  black 
coloration;  in  the  less  dusky  spring  males,  in  which  barring  is  plainest,  the 
spinous  dorsal  may  have  dark  color  mostly  confined  to  the  membrane  be- 
tween the  first  and  second  spines  and  to  an  irregular  narrow  edging  on  pos- 
terior half  of  fin.  No  difference  between  coloration  of  late-summer  males 
and  females.  Head  short,  3.5  to  4.2  in  length,  with  decurved  snout,  pro- 
truding eyes,  and  flat  and  sloping  forehead;  width  of  head  1.6  to  2.1  in  its 
length;  interorbital  space  narrow  and  concave,  6.5  to  8.5  in  head;  eye  round, 
protruding  above  level  of  cranium,  3.2  to  3.8  in  head;  nose  bluntly  pointed, 
3.3  to  4.2;  mouth  rather  small,  inferior,  maxillary  reaching  past  front  of  orbit; 
cleft  2.9  to  3.7  in  head;  lower  jaw  included;  gill-membranes  narrowly  con- 
nected, distance  from  muzzle  to  angle  and  to  back  of  orbit  equal.  Dorsal 
fin  VIII-X  (usually  IX),  10-12,  the  spinous  and  soft  portions  often  united  at 
base;  height  of  first  dorsal  1.7  to.  2.1  in  head,  second  1.4  to  1.8  (height  of  first 
70  to  92  per  cent,  of  second) ;  caudal  truncate;  anal  I,  6  to  9  (usually  7  or  8)  ; 
pectorals  .9  to  1.2  in  head;  separation  of  ventrals  usually  a  little  less  than 
their  width  at  base.  Scales  5-7  (usually  6),  45-52,  6-8  [8-11] ;  lateral  line  as 
a  rule  complete,  but  2  or  3  pores  occasionally  lacking;  cheeks  typically* 
naked  or  with  only  a  trace  of  scales  on  upper  portion;  opercles  covered  with 
small  scales;  nape  either  scaled  or  naked;  breast  in  typical*  specimens  naked, 
fully  or  more  or  less  scaled  in  many  specimens  from  the  Rock,  upper  Illinois, 
and  upper  Wabash  basins,  in  which  cheeks  also  are  scaly;  belly  with  ordinary 
scales. 

The  Johnny  darter,  much  the  most  abundant  of  its  sub- 
family in  this  state,  and  taken  by  us  in  243  collections,  is  not  so 
much  a  thoroughly  typical  as  a  fairly  average  darter — distin- 
guished, that  is,  less  by  a  precise  adaptation  to  the  special 
darter  environment  than  by  a  fairly  equal  distribution  through- 
out the  entire  class  of  situations  frequented  by  the  various 
species  of  the  group. 

It  occurs  virtually  everywhere  in  the  state  except  in  the 
larger  streams  and  in  lowland  lakes  and  sloughs,  where  it  is 
strikingly  rare.  It  has  occurred  but  twice,  for  example,  in  over 
five  hundred  collections  made  by  us  from  the  Illinois  River  at 

*  See  table  on  page  297. 


296  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

Havana  and  Meredosia.  It  is  rather  disproportionately  infre- 
quent in  the  waters  of  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  although 
not  by  any  means  excluded  from  that  area,  as  a  glance  at  the 
distribution  map  for  the  species  will  show.  We  have  found  it 
most  abundant  in  the  small  streams  of  the  Wabash  and  Kas- 
kaskia  systems,  in  which  it  has  occurred  in  56  and  66  per  cent., 
respectively,  of  all  collections  made. 

It  is  typically  a  darter  of  the  creeks  and  small  brooks,  and 
44  per  cent,  of  all  our  creek  collections  have  contained  it.  It 
has  come  from  the  smaller  rivers  with  about  half  this  frequency, 
and  from  glacial  lakes  with  about  a  fourth.  The  average 
character  here  ascribed  to  it  is  illustrated  by  the  fact  that  it 
has  been  taken  by  us  with  darters  of  other  species  in  almost 
exactly  the  average  frequency  of  the  associate  occurrence  of  one 
species  with  another  throughout  the  whole  subfamily. 

It  is  usually  found  among  gravel  and  weeds,  although  not 
infrequently  on  a  mud  bottom,  from  which  situation  some  11 
per  cent,  of  our  collections  came.  Its  preference  for  swift  waters 
is  not  so  marked  as  in  the  case  of  the  more  typical  darters, 
nearly  a  third  of  our  collections  having  come  from  standing  or 
quiet  water. 

Outside  Illinois  the  species  is  found  from  New  England  and 
Lake  Champlain  through  the  Great  Lake  region  to  the  Assini- 
boin  River,  down  the  Atlantic  slope  as  far  as  the  Catawba 
River,  and  westward  throughout  the  Ohio  and  Missouri  basins 
to  Colorado  and  Montana. 

Its  habits  are  those  of  its  subfamily.  It  often  lies  with  its 
head  up  and  its  body  bent  to  one  side  or  supported  partly  by  a 
stone.  It  can  turn  its  head  without  moving  its  body;  can  roll 
the  eye  about  in  the  socket;  may  rest  suspended,  as  we  have 
seen  it  do,  on  the  under  side  of  a  floating  board;  and  sometimes 
buries  itself,  with  a  whirl,  in  the  soft  sand,  so  that  only  its  eyes 
are  visible. 

The  food  of  a  dozen  specimens  was  so  uniform  that  they 
may  fairly  be  taken  as  representative.  Two  thirds  of  it  con- 
sisted solely  of  Chironomus  larvae,  7  per  cent,  of  other  minute 
larvae  of  gnats,  and  the  remaining  12  per  cent,  of  larva)  of  small 
May-flies. 

The  species  spawns  in  spring,  from  the  last  of  April  to  the 
first  of  June.  Females  were  depositing  their  eggs  in  our  aqua- 
rium at  Meredosia,  April  28  and  29,  1899.  In  the  act  of  spawning 
the  male  rode  on  the  back  of  the  female,  with  ventrals  astride, 


BOLEOSOMA — TESSELLATED  DARTEKS 


and  pectorals  and  ventrals  in  active  vibration  as  the  pair  moved 
about  on  the  bottom.  The  eggs  are  emitted  at  intervals,  and 
from  time  to  time  the  female  raises  a  cloud  of  sand  by  a  vigorous 
beating  with  the  tail,  perhaps  for  the  purpose  of  covering  them. 
Males  in  breeding  dress  have  the  first  dorsal  spines  more  or  less 
swollen,  and  club-shaped  at  the  tip. 

In  studying  our  collections,  wide  variation  was  noticed  with 
respect  to  the  scaly  covering  of  the  breast  and  cheeks,  ranging 
from  complete  nakedness  to  complete  scaliness  of  both,  and  also 
a  considerable  variation  in  robustness  of  build.  While,  generally 
speaking,  specimens  become  more  scaly  northward  and  more 
slender  southward,  it  was  not  possible  to  make  out,  even  ap- 
proximately, any  line  or  area  of  division,  either  general  or  local, 
between  the  two  forms,  or  to  draw  any  definite  dividing  line 
among  the  variants  themselves.  This  confusion  of  conditions 
may  be  illustrated  by  the  following  analysis  of  a  single  collection 
of  forty-six  specimens  (accessions  No.  28180)  obtained  from 
the  north  fork  of  the  Vermilion  River  in  Vermilion  county 
June  6,  1901. 

VARIATIONS  OF  BOLEOSOMA  NIGRUM  (46  SPECIMENS) 


Scales  on  cheeks. 

Scales  on  breast 

Males 

Females 

None         

None  

2 

5 

None  
None           ...             

Tiace  
Two  thirds  covered  

2 
0 

2 

Trace       .    .         

None  

0 

1 

One  third  covered  
Half  covered  

None  
None  

1 
1 

0 
0 

Trace 

1 

2 

Half  covered 

2 

1 

Trace        

Fully  covered  

5 

1 

One  fifth  covered 

Fully  covered       .    .    . 

3 

1 

Fully  covered                 .  .    . 

4 

1 

Fully  covered  

4 

2 

Fully  covered  

4 

0 

Total 

29 

17 

298  FISHES    OP   ILLINOIS 

It  was  also  impossible  to  distinguish  any  correlation,  even 
approximately  constant,  between  robustness  of  form  and 
scaliness  of  cheeks  and  breasts,  both  stout  and  slender  forms 
having  these  parts  sometimes  naked  and  sometimes  more  or  less 
covered  with  scales.  The  larger  percentage  of  specimens  with 
scaly  breasts  and  cheeks  came  from  the  Rock  River  basin,  from 
the  northwest  district,  and  from  the  Lake  Michigan  drainage; 
but  in  all  these  districts  scaly  and  naked  specimens  were  inter- 
mingled, the  latter  preponderating.  In  collections  from  the 
Kaskaskia,  the  Saline,  the  Cache,  and  the  lower  Wabash  Valley, 
on  the  other  hand,  both  cheeks  and  breasts  were  almost  in- 
variably naked,  while  in  the  upper  Wabash  streams  and  in  the 
Illinois  basin  the  two  forms  were  indiscriminately  commingled. 
The  larger  number  of  the  stouter  specimens  came  from  the  Rock 
River  system  and  the  northwest  area,  while  those  from  the  Kas- 
kaskia, the  Cache,  and  the  Saline  were  of  more  slender  propor- 
tions, with  the  depth  usually  nearer  six  times  than  five  times 
the  length.  Similar  study  of  specimens  from  a  wider  range 
would  probably  show  that  Illinois  is  in  a  region  of  transition 
between  two  varieties  of  this  species — the  typical  nigrum, 
with  slender  body  and  naked  breast  and  cheeks,  and  some 
scaly-cheeked  variety,  probably  near  olmstedi,  or  perhaps 
identical  with  it. 


FIG.  71 

BOLEOSOMA  CAMURUM  FORBES 

(MAP  XCI) 

Forbes,  1878,  Bull.  HI.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  H.  2,  40. 

J.  &  G.,  494  (Vaillantia  camura  and  V.  chlorosoma);   M.  V.,  130   (Etheostoma) ;   B., 
I,  96;  J.  &  E.,  I,  1060;  F.,  66;  L,.,  27. 

A  small  species,  not  reaching  more  than  1%  inches  in  length  in  our  col- 
lections; superficially  resembling  B.  nigrum,  but  differing  distinctly  from  it 
in  its  less  angular  head  and  less  pointed  snout,  less  protruding  eyes,  and 
widely  separated  dorsals.  The  small  size,  the  finely  and  fully  scaled  cheeks 
and  breast,  and  the  peculiar  ring-like  light  areas  on  the  back  between  the 
quadrate  dark  blotches  will  usually  serve  for  its  recognization.  Length  1% 


BOLEOSOMA — TESSELLATED  DARTEES  299 

inches;  body  slender,  considerably  compressed,  greatest  width  of  body  about 
%  its  greatest  depth;  depth  6.5  to  7.2  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  slender,  its 
depth  3.1  to  3.9  in  its  length.  Color  much  as  in  B.  nigrum,  but  paler,  the 
side  markings  less  distinctly  W-,  X-,  and  V-shaped;  color  pattern  of  upper 
portion  of  body  and  back  more  open,  being  less  densely  and  finely  tessellated 
than  in  the  preceding  species;  back  with  5  or  6  saddle-like  blotches,  the 
corners  of  which  are  more  or  less  distinctly  connected  by  dark  markings, 
giving  the  fish  the  appearance  of  being  marked  dorsally  with  a  chain  of  rings, 
which  are  dark  or  light  according  as  the  eyes  are  focused  on  the  saddle-like 
dark  blotches  and  their  connecting  bands,  or  on  the  circular  light  areas  in- 
tervening; an  evident  dark  spot  on  opercles;  a  conspicuous  zigzag  streak  on 
nose  in  front  of  eye  and  a  very  faint  suborbital  bar;  dorsal  and  caudal  faintly 
barred.  Head  3.9  to  4.3,  slightly  shorter  and  considerably  narrower  than  in 
B.  nigrum,  its  greatest  width  2  to  2.5  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  flat,  5.2 
to  6.6  in  head;  eye  round,  3.3  to  4  in  head,  not  protruding  above  the  cranium; 
nose  bluntly  rounded,  less  decurved  than  in  B.  nigrum,  3.8  to  4.5;  mouth  rather 
small,  maxillary  to  front  of  pupil,  cleft  3.1  to  3.8  in  head;  lower  jaw  included; 
gill-membranes  not  broadly  connected,  distances  to  angle  and  to  back  of  orbit 
equal.  Dorsal  fin  VIII-X,  10  or  11  (usually  IX-10);  spinous  and  soft  por- 
tions well  apart,  separated  by  a  distance  about  equal  to  diameter  of  eye; 
height  of  first  dorsal  1.7  to  1.9  in  head,  second  1.4  to  1.7  (height  of  first  70  to 
90  per  cent,  of  second);  caudal  slightly  emarginate;  anal  I,  7  or  8;  pectorals  1 
to  1.3;  separation  of  ventrals  as  a  rule  considerably  less  than  their  width  at 
base.  Scales  6,  52-60, 6  or  7  [7-10];  lateral  line  ordinarily  developed  on  only 
about  half  the  scales;  cheeks,  opercles,  and  breast  fully  scaled;  nape  with  a 
median  naked  strip;  belly  covered  with  ordinary  scales. 

This  rather  insignificant  but  interesting  little  darter  is  one 
of  the  more  distinctly  southern  species  of  the  group.  Although 
it  has  been  taken  by  us  in  Illinois  as  far  north  as  South  Chicago 
on  the  east  and  Green  River,  in  Henry  county,  on  the  west, 
our  southern  Illinois  collections  preponderate  greatly  in  number 
over  those  of  central  or  northern  Illinois,  the  relative  frequencies 
being  2.44,  .46,  and  .10  for  these  three  sections  of  the  state. 
Like  its  nearest  relative,  the  Johnny  darter,  it  is  essentially  a 
species  of  creeks  and  the  smaller  rivers,  it  we  may  judge  by  our 
107  collections;  but  it  is  found  more  frequently  than  that  species 
in  standing  water,  especially  in  the  lakes  and  ponds  of  the  river 
bottoms,  and  much  more  frequently  also  in  rivers  of  the  largest 
class — thirtjT  times,  for  example,  from  Havana  and  Meredosia, 
where  Boleosoma  nigrum  was  obtained  but  twice.  It  is  most 
abundant  in  the  Big  Muddy  and  the  Saline  River  basins,  occur- 
ring in  the  first  in  seven  out  of  nine  collections,  and  in  the 
second  in  eleven  out  of  eighteen.  It  is  especially  peculiar  in  the 
fact  that  more  than  two  thirds  of  our  material  was  taken  from 
quiet  waters,  and  about  three  fifths  of  it  from  waters  with  a 
muddy  bottom.  In  geographical  and  local  distribution  and  in 


300  PISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

ecological  preference,  this  little  species  thus  separates  itself 
notably  from  its  nearest  ally. 

Described  originally  from  Illinois  specimens,  it  has  since 
been  found  from  Indiana  and  Iowa  to  Alabama,  and  southwest 
to  the  Angelina  River  in  Texas. 

Females  distended  with  eggs  have  been  taken  by  us  late 
in  May. 

GENUS  CRYSTALLARIA  JORDAN  &  GILBERT 

Body  slender,  elongate,  subcylindrical,  pellucid  in  life;  mouth  small, 
horizontal;  premaxillaries  not  protractile;  teeth  on  vomer;  vertebrae  (C. 
asprella)  47  (23  +  24)  * ;  pyloric  caeca  3* ;  belly  naked  or  with  a  few  ordinary 
scales.  In  its  protractile  premaxillaries,  as  well  as  in  habit,  resembling 
Hadropterus,  but  the  body  hyaline  in  life  as  in  Ammocrypta.  One  species 
known,  a  darter  of  rather  large  size,  first  obtained  by  the  senior  author  in 
Hancock  county,  Illinois. 

GENUS  CRYSTALLARIA  ASPRELLA   (JORDAN) 

Jordan,  1878,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.  2,  38   (Pleurolepis). 
J.  &  G.,  490   (Ammocrypta);    M.  V.,  123   (Etheostoma) ;    B.,  I,  104;    J.  &  E.,  I,  1061; 
P.,  66   (Arrvmocrypta);  L,.,  28. 

A  slender  species,  with  extremely  small  scales,  and  pellucid  in  life. 
Easily  known  by  these  marks  and  by  the  peculiar  broad  saddle-like  bands 
across  the  back,  which  are  continued  obliquely  downward  and  forward  to  the 
lateral  line  in  this  species.  Length  3  to  4  inches;  body  very  long  and  slender, 
not  at  all  compressed,  being  nearly  uniformly  cylindrical  from  nape  to  front 
of  second  dorsal;  depth  7.8  to  9  in  length;  caudal  peduncle  very  slender,  its 
depth  3.7  to  4.7  in  its  length.  "Color  hyaline-olive  with  3  or  4  dark,  broad 
cross-bands  meeting  over  the  back,  the  width  of  the  first  3  about  equal  to 
depth  of  body,  the  fourth  narrower,  and  all  extending  somewhat  obliquely 
downward  and  forward  to  the  lateral  line;  a  dark  lateral  band  along  side, 
made  up  of  about  10  more  or  less  confluent  dark  quadrate  blotches,  darkest 
where  it  crosses  through  the  cross-bands"  (Jordan  and  Evermann).  "In  life 
the  oblique  bands  are  of  a  golden,  iridescent  color;  cheeks  below  eye  bright 
iridescent  silvery;  pupil  black  with  brassy  rim;  iris  chiefly  dusky;  spots  on 
sides  dusky  with  traces  of  golden  between"  (H.  Garman).  Head  3.7  to  4.5, 
its  width  2  to  2.3  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  very  narrow,  concave,  8.3 
to  9.7;  eye  somewhat  elliptical,  3.3  to  3.9  in  head;  nose  decurved  and  broadly 
rounded  anteriorly,  somewhat  shovel-shaped,  2.6  to  3.2  in  head;  mouth  rather 
broad,  subterminal,  the  maxillary  not  reaching  to  front  of  orbit;  cleft  3.5 
to  3.9  in  head;  lower  jaw  included;  gill-membranes  only  slightly  connected, 
distance  from  muzzle  to  angle  usually  less  than  to  back  of  orbit.  Dorsal  fin 
XII  or  XIII,  13-15;  soft  and  spinous  portions  separated  by  a  distance  almost 
equal  to  diameter  of  eye;  spinous  dorsal  high  in  front;  height  of  first  dorsal 
1.8  to  2.5  in  head,  second  1.7  to  2.2  (height  of  first  82  to  105  per  cent,  of 
second);  caudal  lunate;  anal  I,  13  or  14;  pectorals  1.1  to  1.3  in  head;  sepa- 

*In  a  single  specimen  (Accessions  No.  27670,  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.). 


Spring  Cave-fish  Chologaster  papilliferus  Forbes 


Crystallaria  asprclla  (Jordan) 


Common  Sculpin  Coitus  ictaJops  (Rafinesque) 


AMMOCRYPTA — SAND   DARTERS  301 

ration  of  ventrals  slightly  less  than  their  width  at  base.  Scales  8-10,  89-97, 
9-11  [12-16];  lateral  line  nearly  straight,  2  to  12  pores  usually  lacking;  cheeks 
naked  or  with  a  trace  of  scales,  or  about  half  covered  with  very  thin  scattered 
scales,  a  few  of  which  may  be  pectinate ;  opercles  with  a  few  pectinate  scales 
on  upper  portion;  nape  scaled;  throat,  breast,  and  belly  naked  excepting 
(sometimes)  a  portion  or  all  of  the  space  in  front  of  the  ventral  fins  directly 
under  pelvic  girdle. 

A  medium-sized  and  singularly  interesting  species,  first 
discovered  in  this  state  in  a  rocky  creek  of  the  Mississippi  bluffs 
in  Hancock  county,  and  since  taken  from  the  Rock  River  at 
Cleveland,  Erie,  and  Milan,  from  the  Little  Wabash  at  Effing- 
ham,  and  from  the  Mississippi  at  East  Dubuque,  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  state.  Elsewhere  it  comes  from  Grosse 
Isle,  Mich.,  from  the  Detroit  River,  from  the  Ohio  River  at 
Rising  Sun,  from  the  Wabash  as  far  northward  as  Terre  Haute, 
and  from  a  few  points  in  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Alabama,  and 
Arkansas.  It  is  found  chiefly  in  the  swift  currents  of  the  larger, 
clearer  streams,  but  apparently  is  a  rare  fish  everywhere,  and 
but  little  known. 


AMMOCRYPTA  JORDAN 

SAND   DARTERS 

Body  slender  and  elongate,  subcylindrical;  pellucid  in  life;  mouth  rather 
wide,  horizontal;  premaxillaries  protractile;  teeth  on  vomer;  vertebra  (pel- 
lucida)  44  (23  +  21),  (vivax)  41  (21  +  20);  pyloric  caeca  4.  Extremely 
slender  fishes,  with  the  habit  of  burying  themselves  in  the  sand;  size  moderate, 
about  3  inches  in  length;  2  species  known. 

AMMOCRYPTA  PELLUCIDA   (BAIRD) 

SAND   DARTER 
(MAP  XCII) 

Agassiz,  1863,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  I,  5  (Pleurolepis). 

J.  &  G.,  489;   M.  V.,  122  (Etheostoma) ;  B.,  I,  102;   J.  &  E.,  I,  1062;   N.,  35  (Pleuro- 
lepis);  J.,  38   (Pleurolepis);   F.,  66;   L.,  28. 

Slender,  cylindrical,  pellucid  fishes,  with  the  premaxillaries  protractile 
and  the  appearance  of  Boleosoma  rather  than  Crystallaria  and  Hadropterus, 
and  probably  more  nearly  related  to  that  genus  than  to  the  others.  Length 
2i<£  inches;  body  subcylindrical,  scarcely  deeper  than  wide,  the  sides  slightly 
flattened  along  their  median  line;  depth  8.2  to  10.1  in  length;  caudal  peduncle 
slender,  its  depth  3.4  to  4.2  in  its  length.  Color  "translucent;  scales  with 
fine  black  dots;  a  series  (14  or  15)  of  small,  squarish  olive  or  bluish  blotches 
along  the  back  and  another  along  each  side;  lateral  spots  connected  by  a  gill- 


302  PISHES   OP  ILLINOIS 

band"  (Jordan  and  Evermann).  Head  4.1  to  4.4  in  length,  its  width  2  to  2.5 
in  its  length,  interorbital  space  narrow,  concave,  7.1  to  8.4  in  head;  eye  3.6 
to  4.3;  nose  decurved,  pointed,  3.1  to  3.8  in  head;  mouth  moderate,  maxillary 
extending  to  front  of  orbit;  cleft  3.1  to  4.4  in  head;  lower  jaw  slightly  shorter 
than  upper;  gill-membranes  somewhat  connected,  but  forming  a  sharp  angle, 
the  distance  from  muzzle  to  angle  about  \y±  times  that  to  back  of  orbit. 
Dorsal  fin  IX-XI,  9-11  (usually  IX  or  X);  spinous  and  soft  portions  widely 
separated,  the  space  greater  than  width  of  eye;  height  of  first  dorsal  low,  2.2 
to  3.5  (usually  less  than  3)  in  head,  second  1.8  to  2.1  (height  of  first  56  to 
80  per  cent,  of  second);  caudal  fin  lunate;  anal  I,  8  or  9  (occasionally  7); 
pectorals  1'to  1.3  in  head;  separation  of  ventrals  less  than  the  width  at  base. 
Scales  6  or  7,  67-78,  8  or  9+,  the  upper  and  lower  rows  (nearest  back  and 
belly)  sometimes  lacking,  body  being  naked  except  for  a  strip  along  the  side 
of  varying  width;  lateral  line  usually  complete;  cheeks  and  opercles  scaled; 
nape  scaled  or  naked;  throat,  breast,  and  belly  entirely  naked;  all  scales  more 
or  less  embedded  and  with  edges  little  ctenoid. 


FIG.  72 


This  extremely  interesting  fish,  peculiar  in  its  very  slender 
form,  its  semi  transparent  body,  and  its  habit  of  living  much  of 
the  time  in  the  sand,  with  only  its  eyes  showing  at  the  surface, 
make  it  one  of  the  most  remarkable  cases  of  special  adaptation 
in  this  highly  adaptive  little  group.  Situations  favorable  to  its 
habits  are  so  rare  in  Illinois  that  its  comparative  scarcity  here 
was  to  be  expected.  It  has  been  found  by  us  twenty-nine  times, 
in  localities  well  distributed — twelve  of  them  from  the  Wabash 
Valley,  one  from  the  lower  Kaskaskia,  six  on  streams  of  the 
lower  Illinois,  one  on  a  creek  of  the  Mississippi  bluffs,  and  three 
on  Rock  River  or  its  tributaries.  It  is  reported  by  Jordan  and 
Evermann  from  Lake  Erie  to  Minnesota,  Kentucky,  and  Texas, 
occurring  usually  in  clear  sandy  streams. 

An  excellent  account  of  its  habits  and  peculiarities  is  given 
in  Bulletin  47  of  the  United  States  National  Museum  by  Jordan 
and  Copeland.  The  fish  has  a  very  sharp  nose  with  an  exceed- 
ingly slim  and  round  body,  as  transparent  as  jelly  but  hard  and 
firm  to  the  touch.  Its  belly  and  much  -of  its  back  are  quite  bare 
of  scales,  and  those  along  its  sides  are  small  and  inconspicuous. 


ETHEOSTOMA  303 

In  an  aquarium  with  sand  on  the  bottom,  it  was  seen  to  bury 
itself  in  a  few  seconds  by  first  stirring  up  the  sand  with  rapid 
beats  of  its  tail,  as  it  stood  literally  upon  its  head,  then  lying 
still  as  the  sand  settled  again,  and  quietly  putting  out  its  nose 
and  eyes,  leaving  only  these  and  the  front  of  its  head  to  be  seen. 
Notwithstanding  its  peculiar  habits  and  its  nice  adaptation  to 
a  special  environment,  it  is  among  our  group  of  most  typical 
darters,  its  most  frequent  associate  in  our  collections  being 
Hadropterus  phoxocephalus,  and  next  to  this,  Hadropterus  aspro. 
Its  food  seems  remarkably  uniform,  consisting,  like  that  of 
so  many  other  darters,  of  dipterous  larvae,  mainly  Chironomus, 
and  larvae  of  May-flies,  the  former  largely  preponderating  in  the 
specimens  we  have  studied. 


GENUS  ETHEOSTOMA  RAPINESQUE 

Body  robust  or  rather  elongate,  considerably  compressed,  or  greatly 
so;  mouth  varying  in  size,  terminal  or  subinferior;  premaxillaries  not  pro- 
tractile; teeth  usually  present  on  vomer  and  palatines;  vertebrae  33  to  39, 
usually  36  (15+21) ;  pyloric  cseca  3  or  4;  belly  with  ordinary  scales.  Species 
numerous,  about  30;  size  small;  coloration  various,  often  brilliant. 

A  large  group,  difficult  to  characterize,  including  a  wide 
range  of  forms,  which,  however,  agree  in  having  the  premaxil- 
laries non-protractile,  and  differ  from  all  the  preceding  genera 
(except  possibly  Diplesion)  in  having  the  cranium  more  elevated 
behind  the  eyes — f^-shaped.*  These  fishes  are,  as  a  rule,  more 
or  less  compressed,  and  deeper  bodied  than  such  forms  as 
Cottogaster,  Boleosoma,  and  Hadropterus.  In  this  group  are 
found  our  most  brilliantly  colored  darters,  bright  red  and  blue 
in  gaudy  display  on  both  body  and  fins  prevailing  in  the  dress 
of  many  species. 

KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES  OF  ETHEOSTOMA  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Lateral  line  usually  complete,  occasionally  2  to  6  pores  lacking. 

b.  Gill-membranes  joining   broadly  across   the   isthmus,   distance   from   muzzle 

to   their  angle  40   to   50  per  cent,   greater   than   from   muzzle   to   back   of 

orbit  zonale. 

bb.  Gill-membranes  scarcely  connected,  distances  to  angle  and  to  back  of  orbit 

not  far  from  equal camurum. 

aa.  Lateral  line  always  more  or  less  incomplete,  the  number  of  pores  lacking 

usually  10  to  30,  rarely  as  low  as  5. 


*  The  forms  (flabellare,  obeyense,  and  squamiceps)  with  low  dorsal  fin  and  black"  humeral 
spot  (see  key)  seem  to  agree  in  having  the  parietals  less  arched  than  is  usual  in  Etheostoma, 
and  shaped  in  cross-section  more  nearly  as  in  Boleosoma. 


304:  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

c.  Spinous  dorsal  fin  not  exceptionally  low,  its  height  as  a  rule  75  to  90  per 

cent,  of  height  of  soft  dorsal;    no  enlarged  dark  humeral  scale. 

d.  Cheeks  and  opercles  scaled. 

e.  Rays  of  second  dorsal  9  or  10;  scales  55-60;  rust-red  spots  on  sides,  no  bars. 

iowse. 

ee.    Rays  of  second  dorsal  12  to  13;  scales  49-57;  brown  bars  on  sides jessiae. 

dd.    Cheeks  naked;   opercles  scaled;   spring  males  with  alternating  red  and  blue 

bars    cceruleum. 

cc.  Spinous  dorsal  fin  as  a  rule  less  than  60  per  cent,  height  of  soft  dorsal;  an 
enlarged  dark  humeral  scale  more  or  less  conspicuous. 

f.  Gill-membranes    little    connected,    distances   from    muzzle    to    angle    and    to 

back  of  orbit  not  far  from  equal. 

g.  Cheeks,  opercles,  nape,  and  breast  naked;    chin,  cheeks,  and  opercles  sprin- 

kled with  fine  dark  dots;  a  large  black  humeral  scale,  its  depth  %  diameter 
of  eye  obeyense. 

gg.  Cheeks,  opercles,  nape,  and  breast  covered  with  embedded  scales,  chin  and 
cheeks  with  pronounced  dark  mottlings  and  vermiculations;  humeral 
scale  rather  small  and  not  very  black squamiceps. 

ff.  Gill-membranes  broadly  connected,  distance  from  muzzle  to  their  free  mar- 
gin 1%  to  1%  times  that  to  back  of  orbit;  dorsal  spines  each  ending  in  a 
fleshy  knob  in  the  male flabellare. 


FIG.  73 


ETHEOSTOMA  ZONALE   (COPE) 

BANDED   DARTER 
(MAP  XCIII) 

Cope,  1868,  Journ.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  212  (Poecilichthys). 

J.  &  G.,  510  (Nanostoma);  M.  V.,  130;  B.,  I,  83;  J.  &  E.,  I,  1075;  J.,  41  (Nanostoma); 
P.,  65;  L,.,  28. 

Banded  darters  which  have  a  superficial  resemblance  to  females  of  E. 
C'jerulenm,  and  may  even  be  confused  (especially  in  preservative)  with  E. 
jessice.  From  the  first  this  species  is  easily  distinguished  by  its  closely  and 
finely  scaled  cheeks,  and  from  both,  as  well  as  also  from  all  other  Illinois 
species  of  the  genus  Etheostoma  except  flabellare,  it  may  be  readily  separated 
by  the  broad  union  of  the  gill-membranes.  Length  ordinarily  a  little  less 
than  2  inches;  body  moderately  elongate,  considerably  compressed,  the 
depth  4.7  to  6  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body  about  %  its  greatest  depth; 
depth  of  caudal  peduncle  2.4  to  3.1  in  its  length.  Colors  in  life  "bright 
olivaceous  above,  golden  below;  6  dark  brown  quadrate  dorsal  spots,  which 
connect  by  alternating  spots  with  a  broad,  brown  lateral  band,  from  which 


ETHEOSTOMA  305 

8  narrower  dark  bluish  bands  more  or  less  completely  encircle  the  belly; 
paired,  anal,  and  caudal  fins  golden,  brown-spotted;  middle  half  of  the  first 
dorsal  crimson;  a  series  of  round  crimson  spots  near  the  base  of  the  second 
dorsal;  occiput,  a  band  on  muzzle,  and  one  below  eye,  black;  a  black  spot  on 
operculum  and  one  at  base  of  pectoral;  females  duller  and  speckled,  with 
vcntrals  barred  and  lateral  bars  feebler  "  (Jordan  and  Evermann) .  Preserved 
male  specimens  with  whole  body  and  fins  more  or  less  dusky,  obscuring 
color  pattern;  dorsal,  anal,  pectorals,  and  ventrals  a  dark  smoky  blue,  densest 
in  the  membranes:  bars  on  body  11  or  12,  only  the  last  7  or  8  (behind  tips 
of  reflexed  pectorals)  distinct;  second  dorsal,  anal,  and  pectorals  (and  ventrals 
of  females)  barred  in  the  rays;  first  dorsal  with  a  row  of  large  dark  spots  in 
membranes  near  base,  and  barred  in  rays  of  upper  half.  Head  rather  small, 
short,  4  to  4.9  in  length;  width  of  head  1.6  to  1.9  in  its  length;  interorbital 
space  5.3  to  6.9;  eye  small,  round,  not  protruding,  2.9  to  3.7  in  head;  nose 
short,  blunt,  and  scarcely  decurved,  3."2  to  4  in  head;  mouth  small,  subin- 
ferior,  maxillary  scarcely  past  front  of  orbit;  cleft  3.4  to  4.8  in  head;  jaws 
nearly  equal;  gill-membranes  connected  across  isthmus  in  a  broad  curve,  dis- 
tance from  muzzle  to  their  free  margin  about  1%  to  !}/£  times  that  from 
muzzle  to  back  of  orbit.  Dorsal  fin  X  or  XI,  10-12;  spinous  and  soft  por- 
tions scarcely  separated  at  base;  height  of  first  dorsal  1.7  to  2.1  in  head, 
second  1.4  to  1.7  (height  of  first  76  to  94  per  cent. of  second);  caudal  lunate; 
anal  II,  7  or  8;  pectorals  .9  to  1  in  head;  separation  of  ventrals  less  than 
Yz  their  width  at  base.  Scales  6,  46-53,  6  or  7  [8  or  9],  weakly  ctenoid; 
lateral  line  nearly  straight  and  usually  complete,  2  to  6  pores  occasionally 
lacking;  cheeks,  opercles,  and  nape  fully  scaled;  breast  usually  fully  scaled, 
sometimes  partly  naked;  belly  covered  with  ordinary  scales. 

The  banded  darter  is  one  of  the  typical  members  of  its  sub- 
family, but  with  an  extraordinary  distribution  in  Illinois.  It  is 
limited,  according  to  our  experience,  to  the  northern  half  of  the 
state,  with  the  exception  of  a  single  collection  from  the  Wabash, 
and  is  distinguished  also  by  its  frequency  in  the  smaller  rivers 
rather  than  in  streams  which  could  be  classed  as  creeks.  Our 
thirty-five  collections,  from  almost  as  many  localities,  give  us  a 
frequency  coefficient  of  4.42  for  small  rivers,  1.37  for  creeks,  and 
.2  for  the  larger  rivers,  the  species  not  having  occurred  at  all  in 
standing  water  of  any  description.  In  the  streams  which  it 
inhabits,  it  is  found  almost  wholly  in  the  swifter  parts  on  a 
bottom  of  rock  or  sand. 

The  general  distribution  of  this  darter  extends  from  Lake 
Erie  westward  through  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Iowa  to  Mankato, 
Mont.,  southward  to  the  Saline  and  Washita  rivers  in  Arkansas, 
to  the  Black  Warrior  in  Alabama,  to  the  Holston  in  Virginia, 
and  to  the  French  Broad  in  North  Carolina.  It  is  said  by  Jordan 
and  Evermann  to  occur  commonly  in  small  clear  streams,  and 
to  be  locally  abundant  in  weedy  or  gravelly  places. 


306  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

Its  food,  so  far  as  known,  is  similar  to  that  of  most  of  the 
other  members  of  the  family,  consisting  mainly  of  larvae  of 
small  Diptera,  Chironomus  larvae  predominating. 

Males  and  females  in  breeding  colors,  the  latter  greatly  dis- 
tended with  eggs,  have  been  taken  by  us  in  late  May  and  early 
June. 

ETHEOSTOMA  CAMURUM   (COPE) 

BLUE-BREASTED   DARTER 

Cope,  1870,  Proc.  Am.  Philos.  Soc.  Phila.,  265  (Pcecilichthys). 

J.  &  G.,  506  (Nothonotus);   M.  V.,  130;   B.,  I,  69;   J.  &  E.,  I,  1076;   N.,  34   (Pcecilich- 
thys niger);  J.,  41  (Nothonotus);  L.,  28. 

This  darter  has  been  takeri  in  the  White  River  basin  in 
Indiana  by  Dr.  Jordan.  Although  reported  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Large*  from  Peoria,  from  Union  county,  and  from  the  Saline 
and  lower  Wabash  basins,  it  is  not  now  represented  in  our  collec- 
tions. A  single  specimen  thought  to  belong  to  this  species  was 
presented  to  this  Laboratory  by  Mr.  J.  P.  Baur,  of  the  United 
States  Fish  Commission,  who  took  it  from  a  pond  near  Naples, 
Illinois,  but  it  was  unfortunately  lost  before  the  preliminary 
identification  could  be  verified. 

The  species  ranges,  so  far  as  known,  from  Lake  Erie  to 
Tennessee  in  clear  swift  water. 


ETHEOSTOMA  lOW^E  JORDAN  &  MEEK 

Jordan  &  Meek,  1885,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  10. 
M.  V.,  133;  B.,  I,  72  (ioae);  J.  &  E.,  I,  1083;   L.,  28. 

Length  2  inches;  body  rather  long,  more  slender  than  other  Illinois 
species  of  Etheostoma;  depth  5.4  to  6.8,  usually  not  over  6,  greatest  width  of 
body  about  %  its  greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  2.3  to  2.8  in  its 
length.  Color  of  sides  and  upper  parts  light  green,  finely  blotched  with 
darker;  back  with  8  or  9  small  and  rather  obscure  quadrate  blotches  of  clove- 
brown  color;  sides  with  9  to  11  clove-brown  bars,  short  and  somewhat  broken, 
extending  above  lateral  line  half  way  to  back  and  below  it  half  way  to  belly 
(the  bars  are  greenish  in  pale  specimens),  squarish  blotches  of  rusty  red 
alternating  with  the  bars;  belly  greenish  yellow  to  almost  white,  overlaid 
between  base  of  pectoral  and  anal  fin  with  an  orange  band  or  a  row  of  blotches 
of  same  color;  sides  and  top  of  head  with  dark  brown  vermiculations  and 
bands  of  brown;  a  band  of  brown  before  eye  and  one  below  it;  upper  half  of 
spinous  dorsal,  except  margin,  a  brilliant  orange,  above  and  below  which  is 
clove-brown  to  light  green;  pectorals,  soft  dorsal,  and  caudal  fins  barred  brown 
in  the  rays;  ventrals  and  anal  almost  plain  white.  Females  and  males  in 

*  "A  List  of  the  Native  Fishes  of  Illinois,  with  Keys,"  by  Thomas  Large.    Rep.  111.  State 
Fish  Comm.,  Sept.  30,  1900,  to  Oct.  1,  1902. 


ETHEOSTOMA  307 

late-summer  color  much  lighter,  fall  specimens  often  suggesting  Boleosoma 
nigrum.  The  large  size  and  peculiar  shade  of  the  rusty-brown  to  rusty-red 
blotches  will  usually  serve  for  the  recognition  of  this  species.  Head  3.7  to 
4,  less  pointed  than  E.  jessice,  the  muzzle  rather  blunt,  scarcely  decurved; 
width  of  head  1.8  to  2.1  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  not  much  wider  than 
half  of  eye,  6  to  8  in  head;  eye  nearly  round,  3.3  to  4.4  in  head;  mouth  rather 
small,  nearly  horizontal,  subterminal,  maxillary  reaching  to  front  of  orbit; 
cleft  3.6  to  4;  lower  jaw  included;  gill-membranes  scarcely  connected,  dis- 
tance from  muzzle  to  angle  usually  less  than  1.1  times  that  to  back  of  orbit. 
Dorsal  fin  VIII-XI,  9  or  11;  spinous  and  soft  portions  separated  by  a  space 
somewhat  greater  than  diameter  of  eye;  height  of  first  dorsal  2.1  to  2.7  in 
head,  second  1.8  to  2  (height  of  first  68  to  94  per  cent,  of  second);  caudal 
truncate  or  very  faintly  lunate;  anal  II  (occasionally  I),  6  to  8  (usually  7); 
pectorals  1.2  to  1.4  in  head;  separation  of  ventrals  always  less  than  half, 
sometimes  only  %,  their  width  at  base.  Scales  5  or  6  (occasionally  7), 
55-60,  7-9  [10-12],  lateral  line  somewhat  flexed  upward  anteriorly*,  as  in 
E.  jessice;  about  25  pores  usually  lacking;  cheeks,  opereles,  and  nape  fully 
scaled;  breast  naked;  belly  covered  with  ordinary  scales. 

A  rare  species  in  Illinois,  taken  by  us  from  eight  localities, 
all  in  northern  Illinois  except  one  from  Johnson  county.  The 
following  are  the  recorded  places:  Pistakee  Lake,  in  McHenry 
county;  Wolf  Lake,  South  Chicago;  Senachwine  Lake,  Henry 
county;  Rock  River  at  Milan,  Rock  Island  county;  Green 
River,  near  Geneseo,  in  Henry  county;  Pecunsagan  creek,  near 
Utica,  La  Salle  county;  Illinois  River,  at  Ottawa;  and  Dutch- 
man's creek,  near  Vienna,  Johnson  county. 

Its  known  general  range  is  northward  at  least  as  far  as 
Qu'Appelle  River  in  Assiniboia,  westward  to  Valentine,  Neb., 
and  southward  to  Arkansas. 


ETHEOSTOMA  JESSME   (JORDAN  &  BRAYTON) 

(PL.,  P.  306;  MAP  XCIV) 

Jordan  &  Brayton,  1877,  Jordan's  Man.  Vert.,  227  (Poecilichthys). 

J.  &  G.,   518   (Poecilichthys);    M.  V.,  133;    B.,  I    72;    J.   &  E.,  I,  1084;    Forbes,   in  J., 
41   (Poecilichthys  asprigenis);   F.,  64   (asprigene);    L/.,  29. 

Length  ordinarily  a  little  less  than  two  inches,  though  specimens  are 
occasionally  found  2^  inches;  depth  4.8  to  5.4  in  length;  body  as  a  rule  con- 
siderably compressed,  its  greatest  width  about  %  of  its  greatest  depth;  dor- 
sal and  ventral  outlines  usually  about  equally  arched  giving  the  fish  a 
symmetrical,  bass-like  Jorm,  which  appearance  is  aided  by  its  rather  large 
and  oblique  mouth;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  2.1  to  2.6  in  its  length.  Color 
brownish  olive,  the  back  with  5  or  6  quadrate  saddle-like  blotches  of  blackish 

*  In  E.  jessice  and  iowae  the  lateral  line  is  nearly  parallel  with  the  line  of  the  back.  The 
difference  between  these  species  and  Boleichthys  fusiformis  in  this  feature  seems  to  be  in  the 
closeness  of  lateral  line  to  the  back  at  its  highest  point  rather  than  in  the  matter  of  parallelism. 

• 


308  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

to  greenish  brown;  8  or  9  greenish  brown  bars  on  sides,  becoming  obscure  in 
front  of  caudal  peduncle;  interspaces  between  bars  rust-red  to  orange;  belly 
orange;  head  slaty  olive,  with  dark  streak  in  front  of  eye  and  below;  cheeks 
olivaceous,  tending  to  bluish  brown  or  chestnut;  opercle  olivaceous  with 
sprinklings  of  iridescent  golden  green;  eye  dull,  the  pupil  dull  black  and  iris 
chestnut;  spinous  dorsal  tipped  with  a  narrow  edge  of  pale  blue,  under  which 
is  a  narrow  band-like  row  of  orange-red  spots;  lower  half  of  fin  chiefly  pale 
blue;  soft  dorsal  irregularly  spotted  with  rusty  orange;  pectorals  transparent; 
ventrals  dusky  at  base;  anal  pale;  one  of  the  most  elegantly  colored  of  our 
darters.  Females  somewhat  duller  in  color,  examples  in  preservative  show- 
ing less  prominently  than  males  the  dark  bar-like  blotch  near  base  of  spinous 
dorsal.  Head  3.7  to  4.2,  rather  large,  uniformly  tapered  above  and  below 
to  the  end  of  the  bluntly  pointed  muzzle;  width  of  head  1.7  to  2.3;  interorbital 
space  about  half  of  eye,  5.4  to  7.4  in  head;  eye  round,  3.3  to  4;  nose  slightly 
less  than  eye,  3.5  to  4.3;  mouth  rather  large,  terminal,  oblique,  upper  lip 
above  level  of  lower  margin  of  orbit;  maxillary  past  front  of  orbit;  cleft  2.8 
to  3.3  in  head;  jaws  subequal;  gill-membranes  narrowly  connected,  distances 
from  muzzle  to  angle  and  to  back  of  orbit  about  equal.  Dorsal  fin  X-XI 
(occasionally  IX),  12  or  13,  the  spinous  and  soft  portions  scarcely  separated; 
height  of  first  dorsal  1.9  to  2.2  in  head,  second  1.5  to  2  (height  of  first  74  to  98 
per  cent,  of  second);  caudal  rounded  or  slightly  emarginate;  anal  II,  7  or  8; 
pectorals  1.1  to  1.3  in  head;  separation  of  ventrals  scarcely  more  than  y$  their 
width  at  base.  Scales  6  (occasionally  5),  49-57,  7-9  [9-11];  lateral  line  some- 
what flexed  upward  anteriorly,  about  parallel*  with  line  of  back;  3  to  15  pores 
usually  lacking;  cheeks,  opercles,  and  nape  closely  scaled;  breast  naked; 
belly  covered  with  ordinary  scales. 

This  little  species,  very  abundant  in  Illinois,  and  represented 
by  161  collections,  differs  from  the  remainder  of  its  subfamily 
in  its  average  distribution.  It  is  consequently  among  those 
darters  least  frequently  found  in  company  with  others,  and  our 
associative  coefficient  for  the  species  is  but  1.47,  the  general 
average  for  the  subfamily  being  2.02.  It  seems  to  prefer  the 
stagnant  water  of  lowland  lakes  and  sloughs,  and  occurs  other- 
wise most  frequently  in  rivers,  large  and  small,  and  somewhat 
less  frequently  in  creeks.  Our  coefficients  for  these  various 
waters  are  2.02  for  bottom-land  lakes  and  ponds,  1.23  for  the 
larger  rivers,  1.13  for  the  smaller  rivers,  and  .99  for  the  creeks. 
Its  preference  for  the  larger  streams  and  the  waters  of  their 
neighborhood  is  indeed  plainly  evident  from  the  map  of  its  dis- 
tribution. It  is  wanting  in  all  our  collections  from  the  up- 
land glacial  lakes. 

Its  ecological  separateness  from  its  nearest  allies,  notwith- 
standing its  close  resemblance  to  them,  is  shown  by  our  coeffi- 
cients  of  association  of  this  species  with  the  banded,  the  rainbow, 

*  Least  distance  between  lateral  line  and  middle  of  back  equal  to  %  depth  of  body.    Com- 
pare with  Boleichthys  fusiformis. 


ETHEOSTOMA  309 

and  the  fan-tailed  darters,  the  other  relatively  abundant  species 
of  its  genus.  These  are  .37  for  the  first  of  the  above-named 
species,  .77  for  the  second,  and  1.27  for  the  third,  an  average  of 
.8,  to  be  compared  with  the  general  subfamily  average  of  2.02, 
and  with  one  of  5.54,  which  is  the  mutual  associative  coefficient 
of  the  three  other  species  of  the  group.  It  has,  in  short,  been 
found  by  us  in  company  with  the  three  other  common  species 
only  about  one  seventh  as  frequently  as  they  have  been  found 
with  each  other. 

The  species  has  occurred  nearly  three  times  as  frequently  in 
central,  and  nearly  twice  as  frequently  in  southern,  as  in  north- 
ern Illinois.  Notwithstanding  this  indifferent  distribution  as 
to  the  kinds  of  waters  it  inhabits,  our  data  of  situation  indicate 
a  decided  preference  for  a  strong  current  and  a  bottom  of  rock 
or  sand.  It  is  a  very  common  species  in  the  Illinois  at  Havana 
and  Meredosia,  88  of  our  collections  having  come  from  that 
situation,  usually  conspicuous  by  the  absence  of  other  darters. 

It  is  reported  outside  Illinois  from  Devil  Lake  and  Tiffin 
River,  Michigan,  through  Indiana  and  Iowa  to  Mississippi,, 
Arkansas,  Oklahoma,  Texas,  and  the  Rio  Grande,  and  also  from 
the  Etowah  River  in  Georgia. 

Its  food  consists  of  larvae  of  May-flies  and  Chironomus 
larvse,  taken  by  the  specimens  studied  in  about  equal  quantity. 

Females  with  large  eggs  were  caught  in  the  middle  of  March, 
but  others  captured  May  12  had  not  yet  spawned.  Craig,, 
however,  reports  it  spawning  at  Havana  in  April  and  May,  1898. 
Males  still  retained  their  breeding  colors  in  August,  1903. 

ETHEOSTOMA  CCERULEUM  STOREE 
RAINBOW  DARTER;  SOLDIER-FISH 

(MAP  XCV) 

Storer,  1845,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  47. 

J.  &  G.,  517  (Poecilichthys);  M.  V.,  133;  B.,  I,  71;  J.  &  E.,  I,  1088;  N.,  34  (Pceci- 
lichthys  coeruleus  and  spectabilis) ;  J.,  41  (Poecilichthys  variatus  and  spectab- 
ilis);  F.,  64;  I*.  29. 

Length  2  inches;  robust,  rather  deep  and  compressed,  and  back,  es- 
pecially in  males,  more  or  less  elevated;  depth  4.7  to  5;  greatest  width  about 
%  greatest  depth;  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  2.1  to  2.5  in  its  length.  Color 
dark  olive,  overlaid  with  dusky  to  bluish  (or  brilliant  indigo-blue)  bars  and 
blotches;  scales  of  sides  each  with  a  dark  central  spot,  these  forming  more 
or  less  longitudinal  rows  most  distinct  in  females  and  in  the  so-called  variety 
spectabile* ;  back  with  7  or  8  rather  obscure  quadrate  blotches;  sides  of  males 

*  E.  cceruleum  spectabile  (Agassiz),  Jordan  &  Evermann,  1896,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus  ,No. 
47,  Pt.  I.,  p.  1089. 


310  FISHES    OF    ILLINOIS 

with  11  or  12  bars  of  dark  indigo-blue  color,  the  interspaces  between  the 
bars  blood-orange,  brightest  backward,  as  are  also  the  indigo-bars;  head 
flesh-color,  with  lavender  on  chin  and  yellow  to  orange  on  opercles;  forehead 
and  top  of  snout  dull  bluish  black;  a  blue  splash  below  eye  and  a  dark  spot 
behind  it;  spinous  dorsal  crossed  at  its  middle  by  a  row  of  orange-red  spots 
in  an  orange  band;  above  and  below  this  a  pale  to  deep  indigo-blue  band; 
at  base  of  fin  a  narrow  band  of  orange  with  a  central  row  of  orange-red  spots. 
Females  duller  in  color  than  the  males,  the  bars  dusky  and  interspaces  olive; 
spinous  dorsal  with  a  narrow  outer  edging  of  pale  blue,  next  to  which  is  a 
straw-colored  band  with  a  row  of  rust-colored  spots,  in  place  of  the  orange 
of  male.  Head  large,  3.6  to  4  in  length,  the  profile  in  males  a  broad  and 
practically  continuous  curve  from  front  of  dorsal  to  tip  of  snout;  females  with 
nape  angled;  width  of  head  1.7  to  2.1  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  flat, 
about  %  of  eye,  5.8  to  7.2  in  head;  eye  nearly  round,  3.7  to  4.1;  mouth 
moderate,  terminal,  somewhat  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  nearer  to  floor  of  orbit 
than  base  of  chin;  lips  rather  large,  upper  with  great  lateral  depth  when 
closed;  maxillary  reaching  to  front  of  orbit;  cleft  3  to  3.5;  jaws  subequal; 
gill-membranes  scarcely  connected,  distances  to  angle  and  to  back  of  orbit 
about  equal.  Dorsal  fin  X  (or  XI),  12-14;  spinous  and  soft  portions  scarcely 
separated,  or  slightly  connected  at  base;  height  of  first  dorsal  2.1  to  2.7  in 
head,  second  1.5  to  1.9  (height  of  first  67  to  83  per  cent,  of  second);  caudal 
truncate;  anal  II,  7 or  8  (occasionally  6) ;  pectorals  1  to  1.2  in  head;  separation 
of  ventrals  usually  about  \i  their  width  at  base.  Scales  6,  44-51,  7  or  8, 
occasionally  6  [9  or  10];  lateral  line  flexed  slightly  upward  anteriorly,  15  to 
20  pores  usually  lacking;  cheeks  naked;  opercles  scaled;  nape  scaled  poste- 
riorly, usually  naked  in  a  small  patch  next  to  occiput;  breast  naked;  belly 
covered  with  ordinary  scales. 


FIG.  74 

The  rainbow  darter,  one  of  the  most  brilliant  of  its  group 
and  closely  allied  to  Etheostoma  jessice,  is  less  abundant  in  this 
state  than  that  species— occurring  in  99  of  our  collections  to 
161  of  the  other — and  differs  widely  from  it  in  local  distribution 
also,  especially  in  an  avoidance  of  stagnant  waters  and  the 
larger  streams.  Indeed,  we  have  taken  it  but  three  times  from 


ETHEOSTOMA  311 

first-class  rivers,  and  but  twice  from  lakes  or  sloughs,  while  the 
coefficients  of  frequency  for  creeks  and  the  smaller  rivers  are 
2.72  and  2.66  respectively.  It  is  also  differently  distributed 
throughout  the  state,  being  more  abundant  northward  in  our 
collections  than  jessice,  much  less  so  in  the  central  part  of  the 
state,  and  somewhat  more  abundant,  again,  in  extreme  southern 
Illinois.*  While  it  occurred  three  times  in  the  waters  of  the 
lower  Wabash  within  the  lower  Illinoisan  glaciation,  a  compari- 
son of  the  map  of  its  distribution  with  that  of  jessice  indicates 
unmistakably  an  avoidance  of  this  area  by  the  present  species. 
It  is  distinctly  a  swift-water  and  clean-bottom  species — 83  per 
cent,  of  our  collections  bearing  ecological  data  having  come  from 
the  former  and  92  per  cent,  from  the  latter  situations. 

In  general  distribution  it  ranges  from  Lake  Superior  to  Lake 
Ontario,  New  Jersey,  and  western  Pennsylvania,  and  thence 
throughout  the  Ohio  and  the  Missouri  basins  to  Missouri  and 
Kansas,  and  southwest  to  Texas. 

It  is  a  thick-bodied  fish,  without  much  grace  of  appearance 
or  movement,  but  is  very  active  and  alert  and  always  watchful 
of  its  surroundings.  When  alarmed  it  darts  swiftly  to  the  right 
and  left,  with  confusing  rapidity.  It  is  fond  of  creeping  into 
crevices  in  the  aquarium,  and  is  quite  skilful  at  hiding  itself  in 
the  sand  or  gravel  by  a  headlong  dive  and  one  or  two  vigorous 
flirts  of  the  tail. 

We  have  taken  females  filled  with  large  eggs  and  males  in 
breeding  color  in  early  June.  Their  spawning  habits  are  de- 
scribed by  Mr.  W.  P.  Seal,  who  observed  them  in  the  aquarium. 
The  eggs  were  deposited  among  the  pebbles  at  the  bottom  of 
the  tank,  the  female  drawing  herself  along  with  a  quivering 
motion,  and  the  male  pushing  up  close  beside  her. 

ETHEOSTOMA  OBEYENSE  KIESCH 

Kirsch,  1890  (1892),  Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  X,  292. 
B.,  I,  78;  J.  &  E.,  I,  1092;  L.,  <29. 

Length  2  inches;  body  long  and  low,  depth  5.6  to  6;  greatest  width  about 
%  greatest  depth  of  body;  depth  caudal  peduncle  2.2  to  2.4  in  its  length. 
Color  (in  preservative)  light  brownish  olive,  much  and  rather  finely  blotched 
with  darker;  back  with  6  or  7  ill-defined  cross-blotches;  sides  with  10  or  11 
irregularly  shaped  dark  spots  along  lateral  line,  often  obscure;  a  dark  spot  on 
cheek  behind  eye;  suborbital  streak  faint  or  wanting;  cheeks,  opercles,  and 

*  The  frequency  ratios  for  the  three  sections  are,  for  E.  jessice  .53,  1.46,  and  1.02  for  north- 
ern, central,  and  southern  Illinois,  and  for  E.  cceruleum,  1.30,  .42,  and  1.28,  respectively. 


312  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

chin  rather  densely  sprinkled  with  fine  dark  dots;  black  humeral  scale  very 
large  and  usually  distinct,  its  depth  nearly  equal  to  diameter  of  eye;  spinous 
dorsal  pale  below,  with  a  broad  outer  margin  of  dusky;  soft  dorsal  faintly 
barred;  caudal  with  6  or  7  wavy  bars  which  are  continuous  for  most  part  on 
both  rays  and  membranes,  as  in  E.  squamiceps  and  E.  flabellare:  pectorals 
faintly  barred ;  other  fins  plain.  Head  3.36  to  3.46,  rather  slender  and  pointed; 
width  of  head  2  to  2.3;  interorbital  space  about  half  of  eye,  7.1  to  8.1;  eye 
roundish,  somewhat  protruding  above  cranium,  3.2  to  3.7;  mouth  rather 
large,  subterminal,  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  above  level  of  lower  margin  of 
orbit;  maxillary  reaching  past  front  of  orbit;  cleft  2.9  to  3.2  in  head;  jaws 
subequal;  gill-membranes  scarcely  connected,  distances  to  angle  and  to  back 
of  orbit  equal.  Dorsal  fin  VI  or  VIII,  11-12;  two  fins  scarcely  separated; 
first  dorsal  low,  50  to  59  per  cent,  of  height  of  second  (first  2.7  to  3.8  in  head, 
second  1.6  to  1.9);  caudal  subtruncate;  anal  II,  7;  pectorals  1.2  in  head; 
separation  of  ventrals  less  than  half  their  width  at  base.  Scales  6,  42-45,  6 
or  7  [10];  lateral  line  always  incomplete,  the  pores  developed  on  15  to  20 
scales  only;  cheeks  naked;  opercles  usually  naked,  sometimes  with  a  trace 
of  scales;  nape  and  breast  naked;  belly  covered  with  ordinary  scales. 

This  rare  little  fish  has  beejfi  taken  in  this  state  in  only  four 
collections,  all  from  rocky  and  gravelly  creeks  in  Pope  and 
Hardin  counties.  It  was  originally  described  in  1890  from  the 
tributaries  of  the  Cumberland  River  in  Clinton  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  seems  not  to  have  been  since  reported  from  any 
other  place. 


ETHEOSTOMA  SQUAMICEPS  JORDAN 

(MAP  XCVI) 

Jordan,  1877,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  10,  11. 

J.  &  G.,  514;  M.  V.,  131;  B.,  I,_85;  J.  &  E.,  I,  1096;  L,.,  29. 

Length  2J^  to  3  inches;  body  robust,  back  low,  and  caudal  peduncle 
stout;  depth  4.9  to  6;  greatest  width  of  body  about  %  its  greatest  depth; 
depth  caudal  peduncle  1.6  to  2.3  (usually  less  than  2)  in  its  length.  Color 
dusky  olive,  finely  and  densely  mottled  and  specked  with  dark  brown,  lower 
part  of  sides  and  belly  scarcely  lighter  than  upper  parts;  no  lateral  spots  or 
blotches  and  no  evident  cross-bars*;  a  more  or  less  distinct  dark  humeral 
scale,  a  bar  before  eye,  and  a  very  distinct  suborbital  streak;  chin  and  cheeks 
conspicuously  vermiculated  with  dark  brown;  second  dorsal,  caudal,  and 
pectorals  finely  barred,  latter  faintly.  Head  3.7  to  4  in  length,  nape  angled 
and  profile  noticeably  decurved  to  end  of  bluntly  pointed  snout;  interorbital 
space  almost  equal  to  eye,  6  to  7.2  in  head;  eye  round,  3.7  to  4.4;  mouth 
largef,  terminal,  oblique,  the  jaws  subequal;  maxillary  reaching  past  front  of 
pupil;  cleft  2.8  to  3.3;  gill-membranes  scarcely  connected:}:,  distances  to  angle 

*  Compare  with  Jordan  and  Evermann,  Bull.  47,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  Pt.  I.,  p.  1096. 

f  "Small"  (Jordan  and  Evermann,  1.  c.). 

\  "Rather  broadly  connected"  (Jordan  and  Evermann,  1.  c.). 


ETHEOSTOMA  313 

and  to  back  of  orbit  equal.  Dorsal  fin  usually  VIII  or  IX,  12-14  (sometimes 
VII  or  X) ;  two  portions  as  a  rule  scarcely  separated  at  base,  sometimes  apart 
a  distance  equal  to  about  %  of  eye;  first  dorsal  very  low,  its  height  48  to  64 
per  cent,  of  second;  (first  2.6  to  3.7  in  head,  second  1.8  to  2.1) ;  caudal  rounded; 
anal  II,  6  or  7;  pectorals  1.15  to  1.27  in  head;  separation  of  ventrals  about 
half  their  width  at  base.  Scales  6-8,  44-57;  7-8  [10-13];  lateral  line  nearly 
straight,  from  5  to  15  pores  usually  lacking;  cheeks  and  opercles  with  more  or 
less  closely  embedded  scales;  nape  as  a  rule  scaled;  breast  naked  or  wholly  or 
partly  covered  with  embedded  scales;  belly  covered  with  ordinary  scales. 

Taken  by  us  in  ten  collections,  from  eight  localities,  all  but 
two  from  southern  Illinois,  south  of  the  Saline  River,  the  excep- 
tions coming  from  Robinson  creek  a  branch  of  the  Kaskaskia  in 
Shelby  county,  and  from  the  Little  Wabash  River  near  Carmi,  in 
White  county.  It  is  distinctly  a  southern  species,  reported  from 
Georgia  and  Florida  to  southern  Indiana,  Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
and  the  Black  Warrior  River  in  Alabama.  It  is,  like  obeyense,  a 
species  of  swift  clear  creeks  with  a  bottom  of  rock  or  gravel. 

ETHEOSTOMA  FLABELLARE  RAFINESQUE 

FAN-TAILED   DARTER 
(PL.,  P.  292;  MAP  XCVII) 

Rafinesque,  1819,  Journ.  de  Physique,  419. 

J.  &  G.,  513;  M.  V.,  131;   B.,  I,  86;   J.  &  E.,  I,  1097;  N.,  34  (Poecilichthys  flabellatus 
and  P.  lineolatus);   J.,  42;  F.,  64;  F.  F.,  I.  3,  24;   K,  29. 

Length  2  to  2%  inches;  body  rather  slender,  compressed,  back  low,  caudal 
peduncle  deep;  depth  4.6  to  6.8  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body  about  %  its 
greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.8  to  2.4,  usually  less  than  2,  in  its 
length.  Color  (in  preservative)  rather  dark,  with  small  dark  specks  and  faint 
cross-bars;  each  scale  of  back  and  sides  with  a  central  dark  spot,  the  longi- 
tudinal rows  formed  by  these  most  prominent  in  females  and  in  the  so-called 
variety  lineolatum* ;  a  rather  large  and  very  black  humeral  spot;  a  dark  streak 
across  opercles  and  through  eye  to  end  of  snout;  suborbital  streak  faint  or 
wanting;  cheeks  and  opercles  dusted  with  minute  brown  specks;  males  with 
head  and  upper  parts  dark  bluish  black  and  with  10  or  12  cross-bars  of  same 
color  on  sides,  traces  of  these  bars  in  females;  second  dorsal  and  caudal  fins 
finely  barred;  pectorals  faintly  barred,  other  fins  plain;  spines  of  first  dorsal 
in  breeding  males  ending  in  fleshy  pads  or  knobs  of  rust-red  color,  and  body 
and  fins  all  more  or  less  dusky.  Head  rather  long,  slender,  depressed,  3.6  to 
4.2  in  length;  a  distinct  but  not  deep  angle  at  nape,  from  which  profile  is  al- 
most straight  to  tip  of  snout,  which  is  somewhat  upturned,  especially  in  males; 
interorbital  space  flat,  6.2  to  8.3;  eye  round,  3.8  to  5;  mouth  rather  large, 
terminal,  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  almost  on  level  with  upper  margin  of  pupil; 

*  E.  flabellare  lineolatum  (Agassiz),  Jordan  and  Evermann,'  1896,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 
No.  47,  Pt.  I.,  p.  1098. 
— 29  P 


314  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

maxillary  past  front  of  orbit;  cleft  2.9  to  3.3  in  head;  lower  jaw  as  long  as 
upper  or  slightly  projecting;  gill-membranes  broadly  connected,  the  distance 
from  muzzle  to  their  free  margin  as  a  rule  over  1%  times  that  to  back  of 
orbit.  Dorsal  fin  VII  or  VIII,  12-14;  the  two  portions  very  closely  approx- 
imated or  united  at  base;  first  dorsal  very  low,  its  height  42  to  68  per  cent,  of 
height  of  second  (height  of  first  3.2  to  5.1  in  head,  second  1.8  to  2.3);  caudal 
rounded;  anal  II,  7  or  8  (or  9);  pectorals  1.2  to  1.3  in  head;  separation  of 
ventrals  about  half  their  width  at  base.  Scales  8  or  9,  51-63,  8-10  [12-16]; 
lateral  line  straight,  15  to  25  pores  lacking;  cheeks  and  opercles  usually  naked, 
the  latter  with  sometimes  a  trace  of  scales;  nape  naked  or  with  very  deeply 
embedded  scales;  breast  naked;  belly  covered  with  ordinary  scales. 

The  fan-tailed  darter  has  a  distribution  in  this  state  very 
like  that  of  the  rainbow  darter,  although  it  is  a  less  common 
inhabitant  of  our  streams.  Of  the  thirty-five  localities  from 
which  we  have  taken  it,  but  one  falls  within  the  lower  Illinoisan 
glaciation,  while  two  are  in  Union  county  in  extreme  southern 
Illinois,  and  the  remainder  are  in  the  northern  two  thirds  of  the 
state,  mostly  in  northern  Illinois  proper,  for  which  section  the 
frequency  coefficient  is  1.92.  This  is  mainly  a  darter  of  the 
smaller  streams,  usually  inhabiting  the  swifter  creeks  and  brooks, 
although  occasionally  taken  in  rivers  and  lowland  lakes. 

It  is  widely  distributed,  from  Quebec  and  New  England 
down  the  Atlantic  coast  to  the  Catawba  River  in  South  Carolina, 
westward  by  way  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  Ohio  basin  to 
Missouri  and  northeastern  Iowa,  and  southward  to  northern 
Alabama. 

It  stands  high  on  our  list  of  typical  darters,  and  Jordan  and 
Copeland  say  of  it:  "The  Darter  of  Darters  is  the  fan-tail, 
Etheostoma  fldbellare.  Hardiest,  wiriest,  wariest  of  them  all,  it 
is  the  one  which  is  most  expert  in  catching  other  creatures,  and 
the  one  which  most  surely  evades  your  clutch.  *  *  *  It  is  a 
slim,  narrow,  black,  pirate-rigged  little  fish,  with  a  long  pointed 
head,  and  a  projecting,  prow-like  lower  jaw.  It  carries  no 
flag,  but  is  colored  like  the  rocks  among  which  it  lives.  *  *  * 
The  Fan-tailed  Darter  chooses  the  coldest  and  swiftest  waters, 
and  in  these,  as  befits  his  form,  he  leads  an  active,  predatory 
life.  He  is  the  terror  of  water-snails  and  caddis-worms,  and 
the  larvae  of  mosquitoes. " 

Six  specimens  were  found  by  us  to  have  made  nearly  two 
thirds  of  their  food  from  Chironomus  larvae,  about  a  fourth  from 
small  May-fly  larvae,  and  the  rest  from  copepod  crustaceans. 

Females  apparently  nearly  ready  to  spawn  are  in  our  collec- 
tions obtained  the  last  of  May. 


BOLEICHTHY8  315 

GENUS  BOLEICHTHYS  GIEAED      , 

Darters  separated  doubtfully  from  Etheostoma,  from  which  genus  they 
differ  alone  in  the  more  noticeable  upward  flexure*  of  the  lateral  line  an- 
teriorly; premaxillaries  non-protractile,  as  in  Etheostoma,  and  cranium 
H-shaped,  as  in  that  genus;  vertebrae  (B.  fusiformis)  36  (16  +  20);  pyloric 
caeca  4f.  Species  few  and  variable;  size  small;  colors  not  brilliant. 


FIG.  75 
BOLEICHTHYS  FUSIFORMIS 

(MAP  XCVIII) 

Girard,  1854,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  41  (Boleosoma). 

J.  &  G.,  519  (Poecilichthys  barratti),  520  (P.  fusiformis,  P.  erochrous  and  P.  eos), 
521  (P.  gracilis);  M.  V.,  134  (Etheostoma);  B.,  I,  75  (Etheostoma);  J.  &  E.,  I, 
1101;  N.,  34  (exilis,  eos,  etc.);  J.,  42  (eos),  43  (elegans);  F.,  64  (Etheostoma  eos 
and  fusiforme);  L.,  29. 

Length  2  to  2^  inches;  body  moderately  elongate,  compressed,  the  back 
more  or  less  elevated;  depth  5.8  to  7.1  in  length;  greatest  width  of  body  about 
3/5"  its  greatest  depth;  caudal  peduncle  rather  slender,  its  depth  2.9  to  3.3  (3.8) 
in  its  length.  Color  (in  preservative)  olivaceous,  much  blotched  and  dotted 
with  brown,  the  dark  color  often  in  more  or  less  definite  W-  and  X-shaped 
markings,  though  more  often  in  vaguely  defined  zigzag  streaks  and  rusty 
splotches;  a  black  band  in  front  of  eye  on  snout  and  a  dark  blotch  behind 
eye;  suborbital  streak  faint;  spinous  faintly  dusky  in  membranes  near  base; 
soft  dorsal  and  caudal  faintly  barred.  Males  are  in  general  darker,  with 
usually  9  or  10  transverse  bars  of  dusky  on  sides  in  breeding  season;  basal 
third  of  membranes  of  spinous  dorsal  jet-black,  and  the  fin  edged  with  dusky; 
between  these  bands  on  spinous  dorsal  a  row  of  elongate-roundish  pale 
blotches  (crimsont  in  life).  Head  3.5  to  4.1  in  length,  bluntly  pointed,  the 
muzzle  somewhat  decurved;  nape  scarcely  angled,  if  at  all;  interorbital  space 
5.5  to  6.9  in  head;  eye  round,  3.5  to  4;  nose  4.3  to  5.2;  mouth  subterminal, 
slightly  oblique,  tip  of  upper  lip  scarcely  to  lower  margin  of  orbit;  maxillary 
past  front  of  orbit;  cleft  3.1  to  3.8  in  head;  jaws  subequal;  gill-membranes 
scarcely  connected,  distances  to  angle  and  to  back  of  orbit  about  equal. 

*  See  preceding  description  of  Etheostoma  jessice;  also  description  of  B.  fusiformis. 
f  In  3  specimens  (Accessions  No.  28075,  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.). 

t"  Spinous  dorsal  in  life  usually  bright  blue,  with  a  median  crimson  band"  (Jordan  and 
Evermann). 


316  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

Dorsal  fin  IX  or  X,  10-12;  the  two  portions  as  a  rule  hardly  separated,  some- 
times apart  a  distance  almost  equal  to  width  of  orbit;  height  of  first  dorsal 
1.6  to  2.6  in  head,  second  1.3  to  1.9  (height  of  first  71  to  86  per  cent,  of  second) ; 
caudal  faintly  lunate;  anal  II  (or  I),  6  or  7;  pectorals  1  to  1.3  in  head;  sepa- 
ration of  ventrals  about  half  their  width  at  base.  Scales  3  or  4,  48-54,  7-8 
[10-12];  lateral  line  with  a  marked  upward  curve  anteriorly,  where  it  is 
parallel  with  line  of  back,  the  least  distance  between  here  and  middle  of  back 
about  J4  depth  of  body  at  same  point;  25  to  35  lateral  pores  usually  lacking; 
cheeks  and  opercles  fully  scaled;  nape  usually  scaled:  breast  naked  in  most 
of  our  specimens;  belly  covered  with  ordinary  scales. 

This  rather  insignificant  little  fish,  with  but  few  of  the  more 
characteristic  feature  of  the  highly  differentiated  darters, 
departs  most  widely  from  the  rest  in  ecological  situation  also.  It 
has  consequently  the  smallest  coefficient  of  subfamily  associa- 
tion (1.22)  among  all  our  darters — the  general  average  coefficient 
for  the  subfamily  being  2.02,  and  the  highest  general  coefficient 
of  any  species  2.69  (Hadropterus  phoxocephalus) .  It  has  been 
obtained  by  us  sixty  times,  most  of  our  collections  coming  from 
the  southeastern  part  of  the  state,  but  a  few  coming  from  the 
upland  lakes  of  Lake  and  McHenry  counties  and  from  the  upper 
branches  of  the  Illinois.  Several  of  our  localities  are  on  the 
middle  course  of  the  Kaskaskia,  and  one  is  on  a  branch  of  the 
Sangamon  in  Christian  county.  This  is  one  of  the  very  few 
species  of  the  subfamily  which  shows  a  preference  for  sluggish  or 
stagnant  water  and  for  a  mud  bottom — 78  per  cent,  of  our  collec- 
tions with  data  coming  from  the  former  and  66  per  cent,  from  the 
latter  situation.  Next  to  the  glacial  lakes  we  have  found  it  most 
abundant  in  creeks,  and  then  in  the  smaller  rivers.  It  seems  to 
be  rare  in  the  larger  rivers  and  in  lowland  lakes  and  sloughs. 

In  general  distribution,  it  is  reported  from  Massachusetts 
and  thence  through  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario  to  Minnesota  and 
Montana,  southward  to  Indian  River  in  Florida,  and  through 
the  Ohio  basin  to  Mississippi  and  the  Rio  Grande.  It  is  every- 
where commonest  in  ponds  and  lowland  streams.  Dr.  C.  C. 
Abbott,  of  New  Jersey,  found  it  in  shallow  weedy  streams,  in 
water  scarcely  two  inches  deep,  and  caught  examples  with  a 
baited  hook,  which,  in  spite  of  their  small  size,  they  seized  with 
the  quickness  and  voracity  of  a  pike. 

Three  specimens  of  this  species  from  southern  Illinois  had 
fed,  like  the  darters  generally,  on  larvae  of  gnats  and  May-flies, 
about  two  thirds  of  the  latter  to  one  third  of  the  former. 

Females  containing  full-sized  eggs  were  taken  by  us  April  28. 


MICROPERCA  317 

GENUS  MICROPERCA  PUTNAM 

Body  short  and  stout;  mouth  small,  slightly  oblique;  premaxillaries  not 
protractile;  vertebrae  (M.  punctulata)  30  (16  +  20);  differing  from  Etheostoma 
only  in  the  almost  or  complete  absence  of  the  lateral  line;  the  vertebrae  and 
fin  rays  fewer  than  in  other  darters,  and  the  scales  larger  than  in  most  species. 
Sine  extremely  small — the  smallest  of  the  darters;  coloration  plain;  species 
few,  or  perhaps  not  more  than  one. 


FIG.  76 
MICROPERCA  PUNCTULATA  PUTNAM 

LEAST   DARTER 
(MAP  XCIX) 

Putnam,  1863,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  I,  4. 

J.  &  G.,   523;    M.  V.,  134    (Etheostomla  microperca) ;    B.,  I,   87    (Etheostoma   micro- 
perca);   J.  &  E.,  I,  1104;  N.,  34;  J.,  43;  F.,  64;  F.  F.,  I.  3,  24;   L.,  29. 

Length  1  to  1J/2  inches;  body  not  much  elongate,  compressed,  the  back 
moderately  arched;  depth  4.6  to  5.2;  greatest  width  about  5/7  of  greatest 
depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  2.6  to  3.1.  "Coloration  olivaceous,  the  sides 
closely  speckled  and  with  vague  bars  and  zigzag  markings;  second  dorsal  and 
caudal  barred;  dark  streaks  radiating  from  eye;  a  dark  humeral  spot"  (Jordan 
and  Evermann).  Head  bluntly  rounded,  3.6  to  4;  width  of  head  1.9  to  2.2 
in  its  length;  interorbital  space  6.7;  eye  3.7  to  4.1;  nose  4.8  to  5.5;  mouth 
terminal,  oblique,  maxillary  to  middle  of  orbit,  cleft  3.5  to  4  in  head;  jaws 
equal;  gill-membranes  scarcely  connected.  Dorsal  VI,  9;  spinous  and  soft 
dorsals  separated  by  a  space  about  equal  to  pupil;  anal  II,  5  or  6;  separation 
of  ventral  less  than  half  width  of  base;  pectorals  equaling  head.  Scales  large 
and  strongly  ctenoid;  33-36,  oblique  series  9  or  10;  lateral  line  absent;  cheeks 
naked;  opercles  with  a  few  scales;  breast  and  neck  naked. 

This,  the  smallest  of  the  darters  and  the  smallest,  indeed,  of 
our  spiny-finned  fishes,  is  very  rare  in  our  collections  outside 
those  from  the  upland  lakes  of  northeastern  Illinois.  We  have 
taken  it,  in  fact,  but  twice  south  of  Joliet,  in  Will  county,  the 
exceptional  instances  coming  from  Skillet  fork  in  Wayne  county, 
and  from  Drury  creek  in  Union  county,  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  state.  It  has  been  wanting,  it  will  be  seen,  in  all  our  central 
Illinois  collections. 


318  FISHES   OF  ILLINOIS 

This  little  darter  inhabits  generally  small  streams  and  ponds 
of  the  Great  Lake  region,  and  ranges  thence  southwest  to 
Arkansas. 

Nine  specimens  from  four  localities  in  northern  Illinois  had 
made  two  thirds  of  their  food  from  Crustacea,  mostly  Entomos- 
traca,  but  with  young  specimens  of  amphipod  crustaceans  also. 
The  remaining  two  thirds  was  essentially  all  Chironomus  larvae, 
with  only  a  trace  of  small  larvse  of  May-flies. 

FAMILY  SERRANID/E 

THE   SEA    BASS 

Body  oblong,  more  or  less  compressed;  dorsal  and  ventral  outlines  usually 
not  perfectly  corresponding;  scales  adherent,  usually  but  not  always  ctenoid; 
lateral  line  present,  not  extending  on  caudal  fin;  skeleton  osseous;  vertebrae 
typically  10  +  14  =  24,  never  more  than  35;  anterior  vertebrae  without 
transverse  processes;  ventrals  thoracic,  usually  I,  5;  dorsals  confluent  or  not, 
the  spines  2  to  15  in  number;  anal  spines,  if  present,  always  3;  caudal  variously 
formed;  no  mesocoracoid;  gill-membranes  separate,  free  from  isthmus; 
branchiostegels  normally  7,  occasionally  6;  pseudobranchise  present,  large; 
gill-rakers  long  or  short,  usually  stiff  and  armed  with  teeth;  preopercle  usually 
more  or  less  serrate;  opercles  usually  ending  in  1  or  2  flat  spine-like  points; 
mouth  not  much  oblique;  premaxillary  protractile;  supplemental  maxillary 
present  or  absent;  teeth  conical  or  pointed,  in  bands  on  jaws,  vomer,  and 
palatines;  no  canines;  lower  pharyngeals  separate  (except  rarely),  with  pointed 
teeth;  intestine  short;  stomach  caecal,  with  few  or  many  pyloric  appendages; 
air-bladder  present,  usually  small  and  adherent  to  wall  of  abdomen. 

Carnivorous  fishes,  chiefly  marine,  found  in  all  warm  seas; 
a  few  genera  found  in  fresh  water,  2  in  the  Mississippi  Valley; 
genera  known  about  60  to  70,  species  about  400.  Many  of  the 
species  are  of  great  value  for  food  and  game  qualities. 


KEY  TO  ILLINOIS  GENERA  OF  SERRANID/E 

Dorsal  fins  separate;  anal  fin  III,  11  to  13,  the  spines  graduated,  the  first 
about  half  length  of  second,  and  second  distinctly  shorter  than  third; 
lower  jaw  projecting;  base  of  tongue  with  teeth Roccus. 

Dorsal  fins  joined;  anal  fin  III,  10,  the  spines  not  graduated,  first  scarcely 
%  of  second,  second  and  third  subequal;  jaws  almost  equal;  base  of  tongue 
toothless  Morone. 


ROCCUS — STEIPED  BASS  319 

GENUS  ROCCUS  MITCHILL 

STRIPED    BASS 

Body  deep  and  compressed;  lower  jaw  projecting;  no  supplemental 
maxillary;  lower  margin  of  preopercle  simply  (not  antrorsely)  serrate  or  entire; 
base  of  tongue  with  1  pr  2  patches  of  teeth;  dorsal  fins  entirely  separate;  anal 
spines  3,  graduated  in  size;  scales  ctenoid.  Species  2,  American,  one  in- 
habiting fresh  waters  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  the  other  being  the  striped 
bass  of  the  Atlantic  (R.  lineatus). 

ROCCUS  CHRYSOPS   (EAFINESQUE) 

WHITE    BASS 
(MAP  C) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  22  (Perca). 

G.,  I,  67   (Labrax  multilineatus  and   notatus);   J.  &  G.,  529;    M.  V.,   137;    B.,  I,  128 

(Morone  multilineata);   J.  &  E.,  I,  1132;   N.  36;   J.,  J.,  44;  F.,  63;  F.  F.,  I.  3,  37; 

L.,  29. 

Length  12  to  18  inches;  body  rather  deep  and  compressed  and  back 
elevated;  profile  angled  at  nape;  depth  2.6  to  2.9;  greatest  width  about  ^ 
greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.2  to  1.3  in  its  length.  "Color  silvery, 
tinged  with  golden  below;  sides  with  narrow  dusky  lines,  about  5  above  the 
lateral  line,  1  along  it,  and  a  variable  number  below  it,  these  sometimes  more 
or  less  interrupted  or  transposed"  (Jordan  and  Evermann).  Head  subconic, 
flattened  at  sides,  3.1  to  3.4;  width  of  head  1.8  to  2.1;  interorbital  little  con- 
vex, 3.4  to  4.1;  nose  longer  than  eye,  3.4  to  3.8;  mouth  terminal,  oblique, 
maxillary  to  middle  of  orbit,  2.2  to  2.4  in  head;  lower  jaw  strongly  projecting; 
gill-rakers  long  as  gill-filaments,  X  +  14.  Dorsal  IX-I,  13  or  14;  longest 
spine  about  2  in  head;  base  of  soft  dorsal  1.25  in  base  of  spinous;  caudal 
forked;  anal  III,  11  to  13,  the  spines  graduated,  first  about  half  as  long  as 
second,  and  second  distinctly  longer  than  third;  ventrals  %  to  vent;  pectorals 
1.6  to  1.9  in  head.  Scales  8  or  9,  52-57,  13  or  14,  very  strongly  ctenoid;  lateral 
line  usually  complete  and  nearly  straight;  cheeks  and  opercles  fully  scaled, 
rows  10  to  12. 

A  species,  in  Illinois,  of  the  larger  rivers  and  bottom-land 
lakes,  but  found  also  in  Lake  Michigan.  It  has  come  to  us  in 
fifty-six  collections  (mainly  from  seine  hauls  of  the  fishermen), 
made  throughout  the  state  from  the  Mississippi  near  Cairo  to 
extreme  northwest  Illinois,  and  thence  to  the  Calumet  River. 
We  have  not  obtained  it,  however,  in  the  Wabash  or  Kaskaskia 
drainage;  and  it  has  been  absent  also  from  all  our  collections  in 
the  glacial  lakes  of  northeastern  Illinois.  It  appears  to  be 
primarily  a  lake  fish,  and  secondarily  one  of  the  larger  rivers, 
our  coefficients  for  these  waters  being,  respectively,  2.8  and  1.7, 
and  the  collections  from  the  smaller  streams  of  insignificant 
number.  It  has  been  much  the  most  abundant  with  us  in  the 


320  FISHES   OP   ILLINOIS 

central  part  of  the  state  (1.7),  about  half  as  common  in  the 
northern  part  as  in  the  central,  and  a  fourth  as  common  in 
southern  Illinois. 

It  is  a  fish  of  the  lakes  and  deeper  rivers  from  New  Bruns- 
wick, the  St.  Lawrence  River,  and  the  Great  Lakes  through  the 
Ohio  basin  to  Minnesota,  Kansas,  and  Iowa.  Its  center  of 
abundance  is  in  the  Great  Lake  region,  but  it  is  also  distributed 
widely  over  the  Ohio  basin  and  the  northern  part  of  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley. 

It  ranks  well  as  a  food  fish,  some  regarding  it  as  scarcely 
inferior  to  the  black  bass — and  it  is  a  game  fish  of  some  im- 
portance, to  be  caught  with  live  minnows  or  even  with  grubs 
and  angleworms.  It  will  also  rise  to  the  fly. 

It  was  formerly  much  more  common  than  now.  We  are 
informed  by  Mr.  H.  L.  Ashlock  that  a  dozen  years  ago  one  could 
easily  get  a  hundred  pounds  of  it  in  an  afternoon  at  Alton  with 
a  hundred-yard  trammel-net,  but  that  it  has  now  almost  dis- 
appeared. It  reaches  a  weight  of  one  to  three  pounds  and  a 
length  of  more  than  a  foot. 

The  little  that  is  known  of  its  food  indicates  that  it  is  mainly 
insectivorous,  feeding  especially  upon  the  large  May-fly  larvse  to 
be  found  in  immense  numbers  at  the  bottoms  of  our  streams 
and  lakes,  but  taking  also  medium-sized  crustaceans  (Asellus), 
and  occasional  fishes,  among  which  sunfishes  (Centrarchidce) 
have  been  recognized. 

Its  range,  local  preferences,  feeding  habits,  and  food  are  so 
similar  to  those  of  the  brassy  bass  (Morone  interrupta)  that  the 
two  species  have  been  taken  together  with  uncommon  frequency 
in  our  collections,  giving  us  the  unusually  high  associative  coeffi- 
cient of  5.21.  The  occurrence  of  both  these  species  in  our  terri- 
tory is,  in  fact,  due  to  an  overlapping  of  the  edges  of  the  areas  of 
their  distribution.  One  being  a  northern  species  and  the  other  a 
southern  one,  competition  is  mainly  evaded,  notwithstanding 
their  like  ecological  relationships,  by  their  occupancy  of  different 
territory.  Within  this  state,  however,  they  are  apparently  close 
competitors,  with  the  advantage,  in  point  of  numbers  at  least, 
in  favor  of  the  yellow  bass. 

GENUS  MORONE  MITCHILL 

Body  rather  short  and  deep,  compressed;  lower  jaw  scarcely  projecting; 
no  supplemental  maxillary;  lower  margin  of  preopercle  simply  serrate  or 
entire;  base  of  tongue  without  teeth;  dorsal  fins  more  or  less  connected  by 


MOKONB  321 

membrane;  anal  spines  3,  not  graduated;  scales  ctenoid.  Two  species,  both 
American,  one  inhabiting  fresh  waters  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  other 
brackish  waters  and  the  mouths  of  rivers  of  the  Atlantic  coast. 


MORONE  INTERRUPTA  GILL 

YELLOW   BASS 
(MAP  CI) 

Gill,  1860,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  118. 

J.  &  G.(  530;   M.  V.,137;  B.,  I,  127  (mississipiensis);  J.  &  E.,  I,  1134;   N.,  36;   J.,  44; 
F.,  63  (Roccus);  F.  F.,  I.  3,  37;   L.,  29. 

Length  12  to  18  inches;  body  rather  deep  and  compressed  and  back 
elevated;  profile  angled  at  nape;  depth  2.7  to  2.9;  greatest  width  about  2  in 
greatest  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  1.4  to  1.6  in  its  length.  Ground  color 
olive-buff,  with  many  small  indistinct  punctulations  of  emerald;  alternate 
rows  of  scales  on  sides  with  dark  greenish  to  blackish  central  bands,  these 
adjoining  to  form  prominent  longitudinal  stripes,  3  above  lateral  line,  one 
(which  is  more  or  less  moniliform)  coincident  with  it,  and  3  or  4  below  lateral 
line;  stripes  below  lateral  line  interrupted  on  posterior  part  of  body,  the 
breaking  point  sometimes  indicated  by  irregularly  disposed  black  spots; 
ventral  region  lighter  than  sides  but  of  similar  colors;  vertical  fins  with 
considerable  bluish  tinge;  cheeks  and  opercles  with  bluish  and  emerald 
iridescence;  pupil  pale  dark  blue;  iris  light  greenish  above  pupil,  darker  out- 
ward. Head  subconic,  pointed,  3  to  3.2  in  length;  width  of  head  2  to  2.1  in 
its  length;  interorbital  space  little  convex,  4  to  4.7;  nose  3.1  to  3.7;  mouth 
terminal,  slightly  less  oblique  than  in  last  species;  maxillary  barely  to  middle 
of  orbit,  2.6  to  2.8  in  head;  lower  jaw  not  sensibly  projecting;  gill-rakers 
longer  than  branchial  filaments,  X  +  13  to  16.  Dorsal  IX-I,  12;  longest 
spine  1.6  in  head;  base  of  soft  dorsal  about  1.4  in  base  of  spinous;  caudal 
forked;  anal  III,  10,'  the  spines  not  graduated,  the  first  usually  less  than  }/% 
of  second,  the  second  and  third  of  about  equal  length;  ventrals  %  to  vent; 
pectorals  1.5  to  1.6.  Scales  7,  51-55,  10-12,  strongly  ctenoid;  lateral  line 
complete  or  nearly  so,  scarcely  arched  anteriorly,  somewhat  flexuose;  cheeks 
and  opercles  fully  scaled,  rows  12. 

This  species  is  distributed  in  Illinois  much  like  the  white 
bass,  and  although  nearly  twice  as  abundant  in  our  collections  as 
that  species,  it  comes  everywhere  from  similar  waters — that  is, 
from  the  large  rivers  and  adjacent  lakes.  It  is  primarily  a  lake 
species,  our  one  hundred  and  two  collections  giving  us  a  fre- 
quency coefficient  of  3.16  for  bottom-land  lakes  and  sloughs,  and 
of  1.82  for  rivers  of  the  largest  size.  But  two  of  these  collections 
were  from  creeks  or  the  smaller  rivers.  We  have  found  it, 
like  the  preceding  species,  much  more  abundant  in  central  Illi- 


322  FISHES   OP  ILLINOIS 

nois  than  in  either  of  the  other  sections,  and  about  equally 
frequent  in  the  Illinois  River  and  in  the  Mississippi. 

In  its  general  distribution  it  contrasts  strongly  with  its  com- 
panion species,  the  white  bass,  the  latter  being  northern  in  its 
range  and  the  present  species  southern.  It  occurs  throughout 
the  Mississippi  Valley  northward  to  the  latitude  of  Cincinnati 
and  St.  Louis,  southward  to  New  Orleans,  and  westward  to  the 
Kansas  River.  Its  most  northerly  localities  in  this  state  are 
Green  River  in  Henry  county  and  the  Illinois  River  at  Ottawa, 
in  La  Salle  county. 

This  fish  reaches  a  length  of  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  and  a 
weight  of  one  to  five  pounds,  although  it  does  not  ordinarily 
exceed  a  pound  or  two.  It  is  common  in  the  market  catches  at 
Havana,  Meredosia,  and  Peoria,  but  hardly  ever  of  a  weight  of 
more  than  half  a  pound.  The  catch  of  the  yellow  and  the  white 
bass  together  from  the  Illinois  River  in  1899,  made  up,  no  doubt, 
mainly  of  the  present  species,  amounted  to  92,931  pounds.  It 
takes  live  bait  readily,  and  will  rise  to  the  fly,  and  is  considered 
by  some  anglers  as  scarcely  inferior  to  the  black  bass  as  a  game 
fish.  It  has  been  introduced  by  the  State  Fish  Commission  of 
Pennsylvania  into  several  of  the  rivers  of  that  state. 

What  little  is  known  of  its  food  indicates  an  insectivorous 
habit,  adults  feeding  on  a^-iatic  larvae,  especially  those  of  May- 
flies, together  with  smrii  crustaceans  and  terrestrial  insects. 

The  yellow  bass  spawned  in  May  at  Havana  in  1899. 


FAMILY  SCUENID^E 

THE   DRUMS 

Body  compressed,  more  or  less  elongate;  scales  thin,  usually  ctenoid; 
head  scaled;  lateral  line  continuous,  extending  on  caudal  fin;  skeleton  osseous; 
vertebrae  22  to  32  (about);  ventrals  thoracic,  I,  5;  dorsals  confluent  or  sep- 
arate, the  spines  depressible  into  a  more  or  less  perfect  groove;  anal  spines 
1  or  2;  caudal  usually  not  forked;  no  mesocoracoid;  gill-membranes  separate, 
free  from  isthmus;  branchiostegals  7;  pseudobranchiae  usually  large,  present 
in  most  genera;  gill-rakers  present;  preopercle  serrate  or  not;  opercle  usually 
ending  in  2  flat  points;  mouth  small  or  large;  premaxillary  protractile;  no 
supplemental  maxillary;  chin  usually  with  pores,  sometimes  with  barbels; 
no  teeth  on  vomer,  palatines,  pterygoids,  or  tongue;  no  incisors;  lower  pha- 
ryngeals  separate  or  united,  the  teeth  conic  or  molar;  ear-bones  or  otoliths 
very  large;  pyloric  caeca  usually  rather  few;  air-bladder  usually  large  and 
complicated  (occasionally  wanting) ;  special  drumming  muscles  developed  in 
abdominal  wall  of  many  species,  their  function  being  to  produce  sounds  by 
the  impact  of  their  vibrations  on  the  air-bladder. 


APLODINOTUS — RIVER  DRUMS  323 

Found  near  sandy  shores  of  all  warm  seas,  none  occurring  in 
deep  water;  a  few  species  confined  to  fresh  water;  genera  30; 
species  about  150.  Many  of  them  reach  a  large  size  and  most 
are  valued  as  food;  all  are  carnivorous. 

GENUS  APLODINOTUS  RAPINESQUE 

RIVER   DRUMS 

Body  oblong,  compressed,  back  elevated;  mouth  low,  horizontal,  the 
lower  jaw  included;  no  barbels;  preopercle  slightly  serrate;  teeth  in  villiform 
bands;  lower  pharyngeals  very  large,  fully  united,  with  coarse,  blunt,  paved 
teeth;  dorsals  somewhat  connected,  the  spinous  with  a  scaly  sheath  at  base; 
second  anal  spine  very  strong;  caudal  double-truncate;  air-bladder  very  large, 
simple,  with  no  appendages.  Fresh  waters  of  the  United  States;  a  single 
species. 

APLODINOTUS  GRUNNIENS  RAPINESQUE 
SHEEPSHEAD;  FRESH- WATER  DRUM;  CROAKER;  WHITE  PERCH      , 

(MAP  CII) 

Rafinesque,  1819,  Journ.  de  Physique,  88. 

G^  II.  297  and  298  (Corvina  oscula  and  richardsoni);  J.  &  G.,  567  (Haploidonotus); 

M.  V.,  144;   J.  &  E.,  II,  1484;    N.,  40   (Haploidonotus);    J.,   50   (Haploidonotus); 

F.  F.,  I.  3,  64  (Haploidonotus);  F.,  62  (Haploidonotus);  L.,  30. 

Length  2  to  4  feet;  body  moderately  elongate,  robust  but  considerably 
compressed,  the  back  strongly  arched  forward  and  the  profile  steep,  with 
almost  no  angle  at  nape;  depth  2.7  to  3.1;  greatest  width  almost  2  in  greatest 
depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  2.2  to  2.5  in  its  length.  Color  plain  silvery  gray 
on  sides  and  back,  white  on  belly;  the  gray  everywhere  with  a  liberal  sprin- 
kling of  fine  black  dots ;,  the  white  iridescent  with  pearly  luster  and  the  gray 
changeable  from  light  greenish  to  coppery;  lower  part  of  nose  white  in  a  broad 
band  plainly  marked  off  from  the  upper  olivaceous  portion;  iris  brownish 
metallic;  fins  plain  except  for  dark  smoky  gray  on  membranes.  Head  sub- 
conic,  with  blunt  muzzle,  3.3  to  3.6;  width  of  head  1.6  to  1.8;  interorbital 
weakly  convex,  3.2  to  3.7,  nose  3.1  to  3.7,  longer  than  eye  and  decurved; 
mouth  subinferior,  tip  of  upper  lip  below  orbit;  maxillary  past  middle  of  eye, 
2.6  to  2.9;  lower  jaw  shorter  than  upper;  opercle  emarginate,  not  ending  in 
sharp  points;  preopercle  serrate;  gill-rakers  short  and  stoutish,  6  +  14.  Dor- 
sal VIII  or  IX,  I,  25  to  31,  spinous  continuous  with  soft  portion,  the  notch 
gradual  and  deep,  shortest  posterior  spine  ^  of  longest  of  spinous  dorsal, 
longest  spine  a  little  more  than  2  in  head;  base  of  soft  dorsal  1.4  times  base  of 
spinous;  caudal  rounded  or  double-truncate;  ventrals  %  to  vent;  pectorals 
rather  long,  pointed,  1.2  to  1.3  in  head.  Scales  9-10,  50-56,  11-13,  strongly 
ctenoid;  lateral  line  complete,  much  arched  forward  and  parallel  with  the 
dorsal  outline,  its  pores  extending  on  caudal  fin;  cheeks  and  opercles  scaled. 

This  remarkable  species,  particularly  interesting  because  of 
its  food  and  feeding  structures,  and  because  also  of  the  peculiar 


324  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

grunting  noise  which  it  sometimes  makes,  is  one  of  the  more 
abundant  larger  species  of  our  principal  rivers  and  lakes.  It  has 
been  taken  by  us  in  72  collections,  ranging  from  the  Ohio  at 
Cairo  to  the  Mississippi  at  the  mouth  of  Rock  River  and  the  Illi- 
nois at  Ottawa.  Two  collections  have  come  from  the  Saline 
River  and  from  a  branch  of  the  Big  Muddy  in  southern  Illinois. 
Most  of  the  others  are  from  the  Illinois  or  the  lakes  of  its  bottom- 
lands. Like  the  two  preceding  species,  this  predominates  in 
central  Illinois,  our  frequency  coefficient  for  which  is  2.05. 

It  is  generally  distributed  throughout  the  Great  Lake  basin 
and  the  Mississippi  Valley  between  the  Alleghanies  and  the 
western  plains,  ranging  from  Lake  Champlain  to  the  Red  River 
of  the  North,  and  through  the  Ohio  basin  to  Alabama,  Louisiana, 
Arkansas,  Texas,  and  Mexico. 

In  the  Ohio  Valley,  in  the  South,  and  to  some  extent  on  the 
Illinois  River,  it  is  known  and  marketed  as  the  white  perch.  In 
the  Great  Lake  region  it  is  more  commonly  called  the  sheeps- 
head,  and  this  is  perhaps  the  name  by  which  it  is  best  known 
in  Illinois.  Gaspergou  is  a  name  used  for  it  in  the  southern 
territories  formerty  occupied  by  the  French.  Thirty  years  ago 
the  sheepshead  was  universally  rejected  by  Illinois  fishermen  as 
worthless,  but  at  the  present  time  all  except  the  largest  are  com- 
monly dressed  and  sold.  It  reaches  a  large  size,  specimens  of 
fifty  to  sixty  pounds'  weight  being  not  uncommon.  It  becomes 
tough  and  strong  with  age,  but  is  at  its  best  when  weighing  from 
three  quarters  of  a  pound  to  three  pounds.  The  market  catch 
of  sheepshead  from  the  Illinois  River  in  1899  was  459,580 
pounds.  This  fish  is  of  a  sluggish  habit,  living  on  the  bottom  of 
muddy  waters,  where  it  feeds  especially  on  mollusks,  the  shells 
first  being  crushed  by  the  powerful,  paved,  millstone-like, 
pharyngeal  jaws.  Often  the  stomach  contains  only  the  soft 
bodies  and  opercula  of  gastropod  mollusks,  the  crushed  shells 
evidently  having  been  thrown  out.  Crawfishes  are  also  some- 
times found  in  the  food.  Half-grown  specimens  feed  largely  on 
aquatic  insects,  especially  the  larvae  of  May-flies,  mingling  larger 
and  larger  proportions  of  mollusks  with  this  food  as  they  increase 
in  size,  until  they  come  finally  to  depend  almost  wholly  upon 
water-snails  and  the  relatively  thin-shelled  clams. 

The  peculiar  grunting  sound  made  by  this  fish  when  caught, 
and  also  often  heard  as  it  moves  about  under  the  water,  is 
probably  due  to  vibrations  of  the  wall  of  the  air-bladder  caused 
by  the  contraction  of  special  " grunting  muscles" — an  apparatus 


COTTUXZE-^THE  SOULPINS  325 

demonstrated  by  Prof.  R.  W.  Tower  for  the  squeteague,  a 
related  marine  species  of  drum.* 

Judging  from  the  condition  of  specimens  obtained,  our 
sheepshead  probably  spawns  in  the  latter  part  of  May  or  the 
first  of  June.  This  is  not  an  angler's  fish,  but  it  is  sometimes 
caught  with  crawfish  bait. 

The  fact  that  the  sheepshead  and  the  white  and  the  yellow 
bass  inhabit  the  same  waters  and  frequent  similar  situations, 
the  two  bass  living  on  a  similar  food  and  the  sheepshead  on  a 
widely  different  one,  gives  to  the  local  distribution  of  this  group 
of  three  associate  species  especial  interest  as  illustrating  the  com- 
petitive relationship  among  fishes.  Comparing  our  55  collec- 
tions of  the  white  bass  and  our  96  collections  of  the  yellow  bass 
with  our  64  collections  of  the  sheepshead,  we  find  that  the  first 
two  species  have  been  taken  together  in  20  collections,  that  the 
white  bass  and  the  sheepshead  have  also  occurred  in  the  same 
collections  20  times,  and  that  the  yellow  bass  and  the  sheeps- 
head have  been  taken  together  31  times.  The  corresponding 
ratios  of  associative  occurrence  are  5.21  for  the  two  species  of 
bass,  7.95  for  the  white  bass  and  the  sheepshead,  and  11.91  for 
the  sheepshead  and  the  yellow  bass.  That  is,  the  species  which 
compete  directly  for  the  same  food  are  found  far  less  frequently 
together  in  the  same  situations,  proportionately  to  the  abun- 
dance of  each,  than  are  those  which  depend  on  different  foods. 


FAMILY  COTTID^E 

THE    SCULPINS 

Body  moderately  elongate,  fusiform  or  compressed,  tapering  backward 
from  the  head,  which  is  broad  and  depressed;  body  naked  or  variously  armed 
with  scales,  prickles,  or  bony  plates,  never  uniformly  scaled;  lateral  line 
present;  skeleton  osseous;  vertebra?  30  to  50;  ventrals  thoracic,  rarely  wanting, 
I,  3  to  I,  5;  dorsals  separate  or  somewhat  connected,  the  spines  6  to  18,  usually 
slender  and  sometimes  concealed  in  skin;  anal  fin  without  spines;  caudal 
rounded;  no  mesocoracoid ;  gills  3l/±  or  4,  the  slit  behind  the  last  small  or 
obsolete;  gill-membranes  broadly  connected,  often  joined  to  the  isthmus; 
pseudobranchise  present;  gill-rakers  short,  tubercle-like  or  obsolete;  pre- 
opercle  usually  with  1  or  more  spinous  processes  at  its  upper  angle;  third  sub- 
orbital  connected  with  preopercle  by  a  bony  backward  extension  or  stay;  pre- 
maxillary  protractile;  no  supplemental  maxillary;  teeth  in  villiform  or  cardi- 
form  bands  on  jaws,  and  often  on  vomer  and  palatines;  pyloric  caeca  usually 
4  to  8;  air-bladder  commonly  wanting. 

*  Science,  Vol.  XXII.,  p.  376. 


326  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

The  sculpins  chiefly  inhabit  rocky  pools  and  shores  of 
northern  regions;  many  species  found  in  inland  waters;  genera 
about  60;  species  250.  None  are  valued  as  food. 

KEY  TO  GENERA  AND  SPECIES  OF  COTTHWE  FOUND  IN  ILLINOIS 

a.  Ventrals  with  a  concealed  spine  and  four  soft  rays Cottus. 

b.  Preopercular  spine  short,  usually   inconspicuous,   usually   less   than    %    eye; 

interorbital  space  nearly  as  wide  as  or  wider  than  eye,  3.8  to  5.6  in  head; 
depth  of  caudal  peduncle  1.5  to  2  in  its  length;  maxillary  to  middle  of 
eye;  dark  cross-bars  usually  present ictalops. 

bb.  Preopercular  spine  long1,  %  to  as  long  as*  eye,  strongly  curved  upward,  back- 
ward, and  inward,  the  skin  of  the  head  carried  upward  by  the  spine  on 
each  side  in  an  ear-like  manner;  top  of  head  flat,  the  interorbital  space 
very  narrow,  little  more  than  half  of  eye  and  contained  8  times  in  head, 
the  eyes  directed  nearly  upward;  caudal  peduncle  very  slender,  its  depth 
about  3.3  in  its  length;  maxillary  scarcely  past  front  of  orbit;  color 
spotted  or  mottled,  without  distinct  cross-bars ricei. 

aa.     Ventrals  with  a  concealed  spine  and  three  soft  rays Uranidea, 

c.  Preopercular  spine  less  than  %  eye;   interorbital  space  about  half  of  eye,  7.5 

to  8.5  in  head;  caudal  peduncle  moderately  slender,  its  depth  2.2  to  2.4 
in  its  length;  maxillary  to  middle  of  orbit;  sides  irregularly  spotted,  with- 
out bars  kumlienii. 


GENUS  COTTUS   (ARTEDI)   LINNAEUS 
MILLER'S  THUMBS 

Body  fusiform,  skin  smooth  or  more  or  less  velvety,  prickles,  if  present, 
not  bony  or  scale-like;  preopercle  with  a  simple  spine  at  its  angle,  which  is 
usually  curved  upward,  its  base  more  or  less  covered  with  skin,  rarely  obsolete; 
gill-membranes  separated  by  a  wide  isthmus,  over  which  the  membranes  do 
not  form  a  fold;  no  slit  behind  fourth  gill;  villiform  teeth  on  jaws  and  vomer, 
and  sometimes  on  palatines;  dorsals  nearly  or  quite  separate;  ventrals  each 
with  a  concealed  spine  and  4  soft  rays;  lateral  line  present.  These  are  sculpins 
of  small  size,  inhabiting  clear  waters  of  the  northern  portions  of  Europe,  Asia, 
and  America;  species  numerous. 


COTTUS  ICTALOPS   (EAFINESQUE) 
COMMON  SCULPIN;  MILLER'S  THUMB 
(PL.  P.  300) 

Rafinesque,  1820,  Ichth.  Oh.,  85   (Pegedictis). 

Q.f  H.  158  (richardsoni);  J.  &  G.,  696  (richardsoni) ;  M.  V.,  149  (richardsoni);  J. 
&  E.,  II,  1950;  N.,  41  (Pegedichthys  alvordi);  J.,  50  (Potamocottus  alvordi, 
wilsoni,  and  meridionalis) ;  F.  F.,  I.  6,  68  (Potamocottus  meridionalis) ;  F.,  62 
(Uranidea  richardsoni);  L.,  30. 

Length  3  to  7  inches;  body  robust  forward,  subcylindrical,  tapering 
rapidly  back  of  spinous  dorsal;  depth  3.7  to  4.3;  width  about  ^  depth;  depth 
caudal  peduncle  1.5  to  2  in  its  length.  Color  "olivaceous,  more  or  less  barred 

*  According  to  Jordan  and  Evermann;  our  single  specimen  with  spine  %  of  eye. 


COTTUS — MILLER'S  THUMBS  327 

and  specked  with  darker;  fins  mostly  barred  or  mottled"  (Jordan  and  Ever- 
mann).  All  our  specimens  have  evident  oblique  dusky  bars  on  posterior  half 
of  body.  Head  3  to  3.5,  convex  above,  the  eyes  directed  outward  as  much 
as  upward;  width  of  head  almost  as  great  as  its  length;  interorbital  space  3.8 
to  5.5;  nose  2.8  to  3.4;  mouth  wide  and  lips  very  thick,  maxillary  1.7  to  2.1 
in  head,  to  middle  of  orbit;  upper  preopercular  spine  short,  usually  less  than 
half  eye  and  rather  inconspicuous;  lower  spines  concealed  in  skin;  isthmus 
1.3  to" 1.5  times  eye;  palatines  with  teeth.  Dorsal  VII  to  IX,  16  to  18;  first 
dorsal  scarcely  %  height  of  second;  caudal  spatulate;  anal  13  to  15;  pectorals 
to  vent.  Body  entirely  destitute  of  scales;  a  few  prickles,  often  indistinct, 
behind  pectorals;  top  of  head  warty;  lateral  line  continuous  or  interrupted 
posteriorly. 

This  species  inhabits  clear,  rocky  brooks  and  lakes  of  the 
middle  and  northern  United  States,  ranging  from  Kansas  and 
the  Dakotas  to  New  York  and  Virginia.  In  our  collections, 
which  number  10  in  all,  it  has  been  taken  only  in  northern  and 
southern  Illinois:  once  in  McHenry  county;  once  from  the 
Du  Page  near  Joliet;  six  times  from  rocky  spring  branches  in 
Union  county;  and  once  each  in  springs  in  Calhoun  and  Jersey 
counties. 

About  25  per  cent,  of  the  food  of  six  specimens  taken  in 
southern  Illinois  consisted  of  small  fishes.  Aquatic  larvae 
formed  about  40  per  cent,  of  the  food,  and  the  rest  was  mostly 
Crustacea  (Asellus).  In  the  clear  streams  and  lakes  of  the  north 
this  fish  has  been  found  to  be  extremely  destructive  to  the  eggs 
and  fry  of  trout. 


COTTUS  RICEI  NELSON 

Nelson,  1876,  Bull.  111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.  1,  40. 

J.  &  G.,  694  (Urlanidea  spilota)  and  935  (U.  ricei);  M.  V.,  148;   J.  &  E.,  II,  1952;   J., 
50   (Tauridea  spilota);   L.,  30. 

Length  (of  our  single  specimen)  2J4  inches;  body  rather  slender,  regu- 
larly tapered  to  the  very  slender  caudal  peduncle;  depth  4.9;  width  about 
same  as  depth;  depth  caudal  peduncle  3.3  in  its  length.  Color  (in  spirits) 
brownish  olive,  sides  irregularly  and  faintly  mottled;  faint  traces  of  2  dusky 
bars  on  caudal  peduncle;  last  membranes  of  second  dorsal  dusky.  Head  very 
flat  above,  the  eyes  directed  nearly  upward;  width  of  head  equal  to  its  length; 
interorbital  space  flat,  very  narrow,  8.2  in  head;  nose  3.6  the  posterior  nostril 
with  conspicuous  raised  edges,  tube-like;  mouth  narrow,  smaller  than  in  last 
species,  and  lips  thinner,  the  maxillary  scarcely  past  front  of  orbit,  2.9  in 
head;  preopercular  spine  long,  %  of  eye*;  lower  preopercular  spines  short 
and  mostly  concealed;  the  upper  spine  hooked  backward  and  upward,  carry- 
ing with  it  the  skin  of  the  head  in  an  auricular  flap-like  appendage,  giving 

*  Equal  to  eye,  according  to  Nelson. 


328  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

the  fish  a  buffalo-like  appearance;  isthmus  twice  eye;  palatine  teeth  obscure 
(present  in  Nelson's  type).  Dorsal  VII,  16,  the  first  %  height  of  second; 
caudal  spatulate;  anal  rays  13;  pectorals  to  front  of  anal.  Body  scaleless, 
axils  and  top  of  head  with  prominent  spinules:  lateral  line  continuous. 

Here  described  from  a  single  specimen  taken  by  the  senior 
author  in  1881,  from  a  depth  of  600  feet  in  Grand  Traverse  Bay, 
off  Old  Mission,  Mich.  Lacking  access  to  Mr.  Nelson's  type, 
we  refer  the  present  specimen  to  C.  ricei,  notwithstanding 
disagreement  with  Nelson's  description  in  one  or  two  particu- 
lars, our  specimen  lacking  the  dorsal  carination  described  by 
Nelson,  and  having  the  head  smooth. 


GENUS  URANIDEA  DE  KAY 

Preopercular  spines  small;  usually  no  trace  of  teeth  on  palatines;  ven- 
trals  reduced  to  a  concealed  spine  and  3  soft  rays;  otherwise  as  in  Coitus. 
Cold  streams  and  springs  of  the  United  States;  species  9  or  10;  size  small. 


URANIDEA  KUMLIENII  HOY 

Hoy,  1876,  in  Nelson,  Bull.  Hi.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  I.  1,  41. 
J.  &  E.,  II,  1967;  J.,  50;  L,,  30. 

Length  2}/£  inches;  body  slender,  gradually  tapering  to  the  rather 
slender  caudal  peduncle;  depth  5  to  5.2;  width  slightly  less  than  depth;  depth 
caudal  peduncle  2S2  to  2.4  in  its  length.  Color  brownish  olive,  faintly 
mottled  (in  preserved  specimens);  spinous  dorsal  with  a  prominent  dusky 
blotch  on  anterior  and  posterior  two  or  three  membranes;  membranes  of 
soft  dorsal  dusky  toward  base;  pectorals  reticulated  with  dusky.  Head 
rather  flattish  above,  but  more  convex  than  in  Coitus  ricei,  3.1  to  3.4;  as  wide 
as  long;  interorbital  space  7.5  to  8.6;  nose  3.3  to  3.6;  mouth  rather  narrow, 
but  large,  maxillary  to  middle  of  orbit,  2.2  to  2.4  in  head;  preopercular  spine 
about  half  of  eye;  lower  spines  not  prominent;  isthmus  not  greater  than  eye; 
palatines  without  exposed  teeth.  Dorsal  VII  or  VIII,  15-17;  first  dorsal 
Y±  height  of  second;  caudal  narrow,  spatulate;  anal  12;  pectorals  to  front  of 
anal.  Body  nearly  smooth;  top  of  head  and  axils  with  some  prickles;  lateral 
line  usually  interrupted  posteriorly  (in  one  specimen  continuous,  but  the 
pores  on  caudal  peduncle  sunken  and  inconspicuous). 

Described  from  3  specimens,  taken  in  deep  water  in  Traverse 
Bay,  off  Old  Mission,  Mich.,  by  the  senior  author  in  1881. 
Our  specimens  have  not  the  lower  jaw  projecting,  as  called  for 
in  original  description.  Careful  comparison  with  examples  of 
U.  gradlis  from  McLean,  New  York,*  has  been  made,  showing 

*  Courtesy  of  T.  L.  Hankinson. 


URANIDEA  329 

that  our  specimens  differ  from  that  species  chiefly  in  the  pres- 
ence of  prickles  in  the  axils — evidently  a  variable  character  as 
shown  by  our  collections — and  in  the  height  of  the  first  dorsal, 
which  is  54  the  length  of  the  head  (^2  the  head  in  specimens  of 
U.  gracilis  examined) .  It  appears  not  impossible  that  the  pres- 
ent form  should  be  regarded  as  a  variety  of  gracilis. 


—30  F 


380  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 


ORDER  ANACANTHINI 

THE    COD-LIKE    FISHES 

Skeleton  bony;  vertebrae  numerous,  the  anterior  simple;  no  spines  in 
any  of  the  fins;  ventrals  jugular,  below  or  in  front  of  the  pectorals;  tail 
isocercal  (i.  e.,  the  vertebras  in  a  right  line  and  becoming  progressively  smaller 
backward) ;  pectoral  arch  suspended  from  the  skull;  no  mesocoracoid;  scapular 
foramen  nearly  always  between  the  hypercoracoid  and  the  hypocoracoid, 
and  not  in  the  hypercoracoid  as  typical  in  Acanthopteri;  air-bladder  without 
open  duct. 

A  large  group,  confined  mostly  to  the  cold  depths  of  the 
ocean  and  to  the  northern  seas;  a  few  fresh  water  representa- 
tives. Many  of  the  marine  species  are  among  our  most  im- 
portant food  fishes. 

FAMILY  GADIDJE 

THE    CODFISHES 

Body  more  or  less  elongate;  tail  tapering,  coniform;  scales  small,  cycloid; 
skeleton  osseous;  vertebrae  numerous;  ventrals  jugular,  the  pelvic  bones 
loosely  attached  to  the  clavicular  symphysis  by  ligament;  dorsal  fin  extending 
almost  length  of  back,  forming  1,  2,  or  3  fins;  anal  long,  single  or  divided; 
caudal  distinct  or  confluent  with  dorsal  and  anal;  no  spines  in  any  of  the  fins, 
all  the  rays  being  articulated;  no  mesocoracoid;  hypercoracoid  without 
foramen;  gills  4,  a  slit  behind  the  fourth;  gill-membranes  separated  or  some- 
what united,  commonly  free  from  the  isthmus;  no  pseudobranchia;  posterior 
edge  of  preopercle  usually  covered  by  skin;  mouth  large,  terminal;  chin 
with  a  barbel;  pyloric  caeca  usually  numerous,  sometimes  few  or  none;  vent 
submedian;  air-bladder  generally  well  developed. 

The  cods  inhabit  chiefly  the  seas  of  northern  regions;  a 
single  genus  confined  to  fresh  waters.  Genera  about  25;  species 
about  140.  Many  of  the  species  are  of  great  value  as  food 
fishes. 

GENUS  LOTA   (CUVIER)    OKEN 

BURBOTS 

Body  long  and  low,  compressed  behind;  head  depressed;  anterior  nostrils 
each  with  a  small  barbel;  chin  with  a  long  barbel;  gill-openings  wide,  the 
membranes  free  from  the  isthmus;  each  jaw  with  broad  bands  of  equal  villi- 


LOTA — BURBOTS  331 

form  teeth;  vomer  with  a  broad  crescentic  band  of  villiform  teeth;  no  teeth 
on  palatines;  dorsal  fins  2,  the  first  short,  the  second  long  and  similar  to  the 
anal;  caudal  rounded,  its  outer  rays  procurrent;  scales  very  small,  embedded; 
vertical  fins  scaly.  One  or  two  species;  confined  to  the  fresh  waters  of 
northern  regions. 

LOTA  MACULOSA   (LE  SUETJB) 
BURBOT;  LING;  EEL-POUT 

Le  Sueur,  1817,  J.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  I,  83  (Gadus). 

G.,  IV,  359   (vulgaris,  part);,J.  &  G.,  802;   M.  V.,  162   (lota);    J.  &  E.(  III,   2550;    N., 
42  (lacustris);   J.,  51   (lacustris);   F.,  62;   F.  F.,  II.  7,  433;   L.,  30. 

Length  2  feet;  body  extremely  elongate,  not  much  compressed,  except 
posteriorly,  the  back  low  and  the  profile  long  and  straight;  depth  7.6;  greatest 
width  of  body  about  .7  to  .9  greatest  depth.  Color  "dark  olive,  thickly 
marbled  and  reticulated  with  blackish,  yellowish  or  dusky  beneath;  young 
often  sharply  marked,  the  adult  becoming  dull  grayish;  vertical  fins  with 
dusky  margins"  (Jordan  and  Evermann).  Head  broad  and  depressed,  4.7 
to  5  in  length;  width  head  1.6  in  its  length;  interorbital  space  flat,  3.4  to  3.6; 
nose  23/2  times  eye,  3.4  to  3.5,  each  nostril  with  a  short  barbel  (^2  eye); 
mouth  horizontal,  rather  large,  maxillary  past  back  of  pupil,  2.5  to  2.6; 
chin  with  a  single  median  barbel  \Yi  times  length  of  eye;  gill-rakers  short, 
about  3+6.  Dorsal  12  or  13,  70  to  75,  the  second  very  long  and  low,  its 
longest  rays  less  than  half  head;  caudal  rounded,  its  outer  rays  procurrent, 
the  separation  between  caudal,  dorsal,  and  anal  slight;  anal  rays  about  65; 
ventrals  inserted  before  pectorals;  pectorals  1^  in  head.  Scales  very  small, 
embedded,  27  to  30  in  an  oblique  series  from  front  of  second  dorsal  to  lateral 
line;  cheeks  and  opercles  with  very  small  embedded  scales;  all  fins  more  or 
less  scaly. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  throughout  New  England  and 
the  Great  Lake  region  and  northward  to  the  Arctic  zone,  in 
lakes  and  sluggish  streams;  occasionally  taken  in  the  Ohio  and 
the  upper  Mississippi.  Additional  to  its  occurrence  in  Lake 
Michigan,  we  have  specimens  on  record  also  from  the  Illinois 
River  at  Peoria,  Havana,  Meredosia,  and  Naples,  from  the 
Rock  River  at  Milan,  and  from  the  Mississippi  at  Rock  Island. 
These  are  all  cases  of  the  occurrence  of  a  single  fish  in  a  place, 
and  there  is  nothing  to  indicate  any  permanent  invasion  of  our 
rivers  by  this  species. 

The  burbot  lives  in  deep  water,  where  it  lies  during  the  day 
under  the  shelter  of  stones  (Brehm).  It  is  exceedingly  vora- 
cious, not  even  sparing  its  own  kind.  Zadock  Thompson*  says 
that  he  has  taken  specimens  with  the  abdomen  so  much  dis- 
tended with  food  as  to  give  the  fish  the  appearance  of  a  globe- 

*  Evermann  and  Kendall,  Rep.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.,  1894,  p.  603. 


332  FISHES    OF   ILLINOIS 

fish  or  toadfish.  One  specimen  sixteen  inches  long,  examined 
by  him,  contained  ten  dace,  none  of  which  was  less  than  four 
inches  long.  Fishes  constituted  about  80  per  cent,  of  the  food 
of  specimens  studied  by  the  senior  author  in  1888,  the  remainder 
being  crawfishes.  Among  the  fishes  recognized  was  a  single 
whitefish,  the  remainder  being  the  common  yellow  perch 
(Perca  flavescens) . 

The  flesh  of  the  burbot  is  coarse  and  tasteless,  and  is  seldom 
used  for  food.  It  is,  in  fact,  of  less  value  than  any  other  Ameri- 
can fresh- water  fish  of  its  size  unless  it  be  the  gar,  which  it  doubt- 
less equals  in  destructiveness  where  it  is  abundant.  Its  interest 
to  the  scientist  lies  in  its  being  the  single  fresh-water  representa- 
tive of  the  cod  family  in  our  waters.  It  is  unknown  by  name  to 
most  of  our  river  fishermen.  It  has  been  described  to  us  by 
one  of  them  as  a  fish  "with  a  skin  like  a  bullhead  and  a  head 
like  a  dogfish,  with  a  chin  bristle."  If  the  exception  be  made 
that  very  small  scales  are  present,  this  brief  description  will 
suffice  very  well  for  the  recognition  of  the  species  if  found  astray 
in  our  rivers  or  bottom-land  lakes. 


SELECTED   BIBLIOGRAPHY  333 


SELECTED  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

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1895.  Catalogue  of  the  fishes  in  the  British  Museum.  Ed.  2.  Vol.  1. 
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Brice,  J.  J. 

1898.  A  manual  of  fish  culture  based  on  the  methods  of  the  U.  S. 
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Bridge,  T.  W.,  and  Boulenger,  G.  A. 

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Goode,  G.  B. 

1888.  American  fishes;  a  popular  treatise  upon  the  game  and  food 
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Goode,  G.  B.,  and  associates. 

1884-1887.  The  fisheries  and  fishery  industries  of  the  United  States. 
7  vols.  text  and  atlas.  Washington,  Government. 

Gunther,  A.  C.  L.  G. 

1859-1870.  Catalogue  of  the  fishes  in  the  collection  of  the  British 
Museum.  8  vols.  Lond.,  Taylor  &  Francis. 

1880.  An  introduction  to  the  study  of  fishes.  720  pp.  illus.  Edin., 
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Jordan,  D.  S. 

1888.  Manual  of  the  vertebrates  of  the  northern  United  States.  Ed.  5. 
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334  FISHES  or  ILLINOIS 

Jordan,  D.  S.,  and  Evermann,  B.  W. 

1896-1900.     The  fishes  of  North  and  Middle  America.     Bull.   U.  S. 
national  museum,  no.  47,  pts.  1-4,  3313  pp.     pi. 

1902.     American  food  and  game  fishes.     573  pp.     illus.  col.  pi.     N.  Y., 
Doubleday. 

Jordan,  D.  S.,  and  Gilbert,  C.  H. 

1882.     Synopsis  of  the  fishes  of  North  America.     Bull.  U.  S.  national 
museum,  no.  16,  1018  pp. 

Stevenson,  C.  H. 

1898.     The  preservation  of  fishery  products   for   food.     Bull.   U.   S. 
fish  comm.,  vol.  18,  pp.  335-563,  pi. 

1904.     Utilization  of  the  skins  of  aquatic  animals.     Rep.  U.  S.  fish 
comm.,  1902,  pp.  283-352,  pi. 

Pearse,  A.  S. 

1915.     On  the  food  of  the  small  shore  fishes  in  the  waters  near  Madison, 
Wisconsin.    Bull.  Wis.  nat.  hist,  soc.,  vol.  13,  pp.  7-22. 

1918.     The  food  of  the  shore  fishes  of  certain  Wisconsin  lakes.     Bull. 
U.  S.  bureau  of  fisheries,  vol.  35,  pp.  247-292. 

PAPERS  ON  ILLINOIS  FISHES 

Kennicott,  Robert. 

1855.     Catalogue  of  animals  observed  in  Cook  county,  Illinois.     Trans- 
actions 111.  agricultural  society,  vol.  1,  pp.  577-595. 

Nelson,  E.  W. 

1876.    A  partial  catalogue  of  the  fishes  of  Illinois.     Bull.  111.  state 
lab.  nat.  hist.,  vol.  1,  no.  1,  pp.  33-52. 

1878.     Fisheries  of  Chicago  and  vicinity.     Rep.   U.   S.   fish  comm., 
1875-76,  pp.  783-800. 

Jordan,  D.  S. 

1878.     A  catalogue  of  the  fishes  of  Illinois.     Bull.  111.  state  lab.  nat. 
hist.,  vol.  1,  no.  2,  pp.  37-70. 

Forbes,  S.  A. 

1878.  The  food  of  Illinois  fishes.     Bull.  111.  state  lab.  nat.  hist.,  vol. 
1,  no.  2,  pp.  71-89. 

1879.  On  some  sensory  structures  of  young  dog-fishes.     Amer.  quar- 
terly microscopical  journal,  vol.  1,  no.  4,  pp.  257-260,  pi. 

1880.  On  the  food  of  young  fishes.     Bull.  111.  state  lab.  nat.  hist., 
vol.  1,  no.  3,  pp.  66-79. 

1880.     The  food  of  fishes.     Bull.  111.  state  lab.  nat.  hist.,  vol.  1,  no.  3, 
pp.  18-65.     Also  in  Rep.  111.  state  fish  comm.,  1884,  pp.  90-127. 


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Forbes,  S.  A. — continued. 

1880.  The  food  of  the  darters.     Amer.  naturalist,  vol.  14,  pp.  697-703. 

1881.  A  rare  fish  in  Illinois  [Chologaster].     Amer.  naturalist,  vol.  15, 
pp.  232-233. 

1881.  Food  of  young  whitefish — Coregonus  clupeiformis.  'Bull.  U.  S. 
fish  comm.,  vol.  1,  pp.  19-20,  269-270. 

1883.  The  food  of  the  smaller  fresh-water  fishes.  Bull.  111.  state  lab. 
nat.  hist.,  vol.  1,  no.  6,  pp.  65-94. 

1883.  The  first  food  of  the  common  whitefish  (Coregonus  clupeiformis 
Mitch.).  Bull.  111.  state  lab.  nat.  hist.,  vol.  1,  no.  6,  pp.  95-109. 
Also  in  Rep.  U.  S.  fish  comm.,  1881,  pp.  771-782. 

— .     A  catalogue  of  the  native  fishes  of  Illinois.     Rep.  111.  state  fish 
comm.,  1884,  pp.  60-89. 

1885.  Description  of  new  Illinois  fishes.  Bull.  111.  state  lab.  nat. 
hist.,  vol.  2,  pp.  135-139. 

1888.  Studies  of  the  food  of  fresh-water  fishes.  Bull.  111.  state  lab. 
nat,,  hist,,  vol.  2,  pp.  443-473. 

1888.  On  the  food  relations  of  fresh-water  fishes;  a  summary  and  dis- 
cussion. Bull.  111.  state  lab.  nat.  hist.,  vol.  2,  pp.  475-538. 

1888.  The  food  of  the  fishes  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Transactions 
Amer.  fisheries  society,  vol.  17,  pp.  1-17. 

Garman,  H. 

1890.  A  preliminary  report  on  the  animals  of  the  Mississippi  bottoms 
near  Quincy,  Illinois,  in  August,  1888.  Part  1.  Bull.  111.  state  lab. 
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1899 —  — .  Annual  reports  giving  the  estimated  amount  and  lands 
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Large,  Thomas. 

— .     A  list  of  the  native  fishes  of  Illinois,  with  keys.    Rep.  111.  state 
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Richardson,  R.  E. 

1904.  A  review  of  the  sunfishes  of  the  current  genera  Apomotis,  Lepo- 
mis,  and  Eupomotis,  with  particular  reference  to  the  species  found 
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111.  state  lab.  nat.  hist.,  vol.  7,  pp.  37-44,  pi. 


336  FISHES  OF  ILLINOIS 

MISCELLANEOUS  PAPERS 

Abbott,  C.  C. 

1861.  Notes  on  the  habits  of  Aphredoderus  sayanus.  Proc.  Academy 
nat.  sci.  Phil.,  1861,  pp.  95-96. 

1870.  Notes  on  fresh-water  fishes  of  New  Jersey.  Amer.  naturalist, 
vol.  4,  pp.  99-117. 

1870.  Further  notes  on  New  Jersey  fishes.  Amer.  naturalist,  vol.  4, 
pp.  717-720. 

1874.  Notes  on  the  cyprinoids  of  central  New  Jersey.  Amer.  natu- 
ralist, vol.  8,  pp.  326-338. 

1878.  Notes  on  some  fishes  of  the  Delaware  river.  Rep.  U.  S.  fish 
comm.,  1875-76,  pp.  825-845. 

Agassiz,  Alexander. 

1878.  The  development  of  Lepidosteus.  Proc.  Amer.  academy  arts 
and  sciences,  vol.  14,  pp.  65-76,  pi.  1  col.  pi. 

Agassiz,  Louis. 

1854.  Notice  of  a  collection  of  fishes  from  the  southern  bend  of  the 
Tennessee  river  in  the  state  of  Alabama.  Amer.  journal  science 
and  arts,  ser.  2,  vol.  17,  pp.  297-308,  353-369. 

Atkins,  C.  G. 

1905.  Culture  of  the  fallfish  or  chub.  Amer.  fish  culturist,  vol.  2,  p. 
189. 

Bean,  T.  H.,  ed. 

1890.  Observations  upon  fish  and  fish  culture.  Bull.  U.  S.  fish  comm., 
vol.  10,  pp.  49-61. 

B.erg,  L.  S. 

1904.  Zur  systematik  der  Acipenseriden.  Zoologischer  Anzeiger,  vol. 
27,  pp.  665-667. 

Bollman,  C.  H. 

1892.  A  review  of  the  Centrar chides,  or  fresh-water  sunfishes,  of  North 
America.     Rep.  U.  S.  fish  comm.,  1888,  pp.  557-580,  pi. 

Bridge,  T.  W. 

1878.  On  the  osteology  of  Polyodon  folium.  Philosophical  trans. 
Royal  society  Lond.,  vol.  169,  pp.  683-733,  3  pi. 

1897.  On  the  presence  of  ribs  in  Polyodon  (Spatularia)  folium.  Proc. 
Zool.  society  Lond.,  1897,  pp.  722-724. 

Clark,  F.  N.   _ 

1893.  History  and  methods  of  whitefish  culture.     Bull.  U.   S.   fish 
comm.,  vol.  13,  pp.  213-220. 


SELECTED   BIBLIOGEAPHY  337 

Cole,  L.  J. 

1905.  The  German  carp  in  the  United  States.  Rep.  U.  S.  fish  comm., 
1904,  pp.  525-641,  pi. 

Collinge,  W.  E. 

1885.  On  the  presence  of  scales  on  the  integument  of  Polyodon  folium. 
Journal  anatomy  and  physiology,  vol.  19,  pp.  485-487. 

Cope,  E.  D. 

1866.  Synopsis  of  the  Cyprinidce  of  Pennsylvania.  Transactions 
Amer.  philosophical  society,  n.  s.  vol.  13,  pp.  351-399. 

Culbertson,  Glenn. 

1904.  Note  on  the  breeding  habits  of  the  common  or  white  sucker. 
Proc.  Indiana  academy  sci.,  1903,  pp.  65-66. 

Dawson,  Jean. 

1905.  Breathing  and  feeding  mechanism  of  the  lampreys.    Biol.  bull., 
vol.  9,  pp.  1-21,  91-111. 

Dean,  Bashford. 

1895.  Early  development  of  gar-pike  and  sturgeon.     Journal  mor- 
phology, vol.  11,  pp.  1-62,  pi. 

1896.  Early  development  of  Amia.     Quarterly  journal  microscopical 
science,  n.  s.  vol.  38,  pp.  413-444,  3  pi. 

Dean,  Bashford,  and  Sumner,  F.  B. 

1897.  Notes  on  the  spawning  habits  of  the  brook  lamprey  (Petro- 
myzon  wilderi).    Transactions  N.  Y.  academy  sci.,  vol.  16,  pp.  321- 
324,  1  pi. 

Eigenmanh,  C.  H. 

1896.  Fishes,  spawning  seasons.  Proc.  Indiana  academy  sci.,  1895, 
p.  252. 

1899.  The  eyes  of  the  blind  vertebrates  of  North  America.  1.  The 
eyes  of  the  Amblyopsidce.  Archiv  fur  Entwicklungsmechanik  der 
Organismen,  vol.  8,  pp.  545-617,  pi. 

Evermann,  B.  W. 

1891.  A  report  upon  investigations  made  in  Texas  in  1891.  Bull.  U. 
S.  fish  comm.,  vol.  11,  pp.  61-90,  pi. 

1899.  Report  on  investigations  by  the  U.  S.  fish  commission  in  Mis- 
sissippi, Louisiana,  and  Texas  in  1897.  Rep.  U.  S.  fish  comm., 
1898,  pp.  287-312,  pi. 

1902.  Description  of  a  new  species  of  sha'd  (Alosa  ohiensis),  with  notes 
on  other  food-fishes  of  the  Ohio  river.  Rep.  U.  S.  fish  comm., 
.1901,  pp.  275-288. 


338  FISHES   OF   ILLINOIS 

Evermann,  B.  W.,  and  Kendall,  W.  C. 

1902.  Annotated  list  of  the  fishes  known  to  occur  in  the  St.  Lawrence 
river.  Rep.  U.  S.  fish  comm.,  1901,  pp.  227-240. 

Evermann,  B.  W.,  and  Smith,  H.  M. 

1896.  Whitefishes  of  North  America.  Rep.  U.  S.  fish  comm.,  1894, 
pp.  283-324,  pi. 

Eycleshymer,  A.  C. 

1901.  Observations  on  the  breeding  habits    of   Ameiurus  nebulosus. 
Amer.  naturalist,  vol.  35,  pp.  911-918. 

Gage,  S.  H. 

1893.  Lake  and  brook  lampreys  of  New  York,  especially  those  of 
Cayuga  and  Seneca  lakes.  Wilder  quarter-century  book,  1868 — 
1893,  pp.  421-493,  pi. 

Gardner,  A.  P. 

1883.  Experiments  in  the  pond  culture  of  trout,  suckers,  and  catfish. 
Bull.  U.  S.  fish  comm.,  vol.  3,  pp.  417-420. 

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1905.  Family  of  cyprinids  and  the  carp  as  its  type.  Smithsonian 
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1900.  Notes  on  the  psychology  of  fishes.  Amer.  naturalist,  vol.  34 
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ERRATA 

Page  cxxv,  line  10  from  bottom,  for  anguilla  read  Ictalurus  anguilla. 

Page  9,  delete  platB  reference  under  heading. 

Page  34,  plate  facing,  as  authority  for  Lampetra  wilderi,  read  Gage. 

Page  85,  line  22,  for  fin-scaled  read  fine-scaled. 

Page  94,  line  5,  for  Hydrophillidae  read  Hydrophilidae. 

Page  99,  line  3  of  table,  for  Pimpephales  read  Pimephales. 

Page  145,  line  2  of  synonymy,  for  analostoma  read  analostana. 

Page  160,  line  1,  for  Phyrganeidae  read  Phryganeidae. 

Page  220,  line  8  from  bottom,  for  Centrachidae  read  Centrarchidae. 

Page  298,  last  line,  for  recognization  read  recognition. 

Page  317,  line  3,  for  30  (16+20)  read  30  (14+16). 

Insert  also  the  following  missing  letters,  dropped  out  in  printing: — 

Page  xliv,  line  10  from  bottom,  i  in  is. 

Page  Ixviii,  line  10,  i  in  Pulaski. 

Page  Ixxii,  line  13  from  bottom,  i  in  insensible. 

Page  Ixxiii,  line  19,  i  in  relations;  line  8  from  bottom,  1  in  called. 

Page  Ixxxiii,  under  heading,  line  4,  1  in  conveniently. 

Page  xc,  sixth-column  heading,  k  in  Kaskaskia. 

Page  xcvii,  line  1,  d  in  distinguished;  line  2  from  bottom,  (first  column,) 
r  in  ricei. 

Page  cvi,  middle  heading,  n  in  glaciation. 

Page  cvii,  line  7,  t  in  turbid. 

Page  cviii,  line  1,  i  in  times. 

Page  ex,  line  10  from  bottom,  s  in  Wabash. 

Page  cxi,  line  1,  1  in  miles. 

Page  cxxvii,  line  17  from  bottom,  i  in  legislation. 

Page  cxxx,  legend,  line  2  from  bottom,  a  in  maxillary. 

Page  cxxxii,  first  legend,  a  semicolon  at  end  of  first  line;  line  2,  s  in  spl. 

Page  23,  line  14  from  bottom  (not  including  foot-note),  i  in  interest. 

Page  35,  line  10  from  bottom,  1  in  less. 

Page  49,  line  3  under  first  headings,  1  in  dorsal. 

Page  58,  line  8  from  bottom,  1  in  lateral. 

Page  61,  line  11  from  bottom,  1  in  single. 

Page  78,  line  11  from  bottom,  a  in  almost. 

Page  231,  line  7  above  last  heading,  h  in  toothless. 


INDEX 


Abramis,  103,  125 

crysoleucas,    95,    99,    100,    101, 

126-128 
Acanthini,  330 
Acanthopteri,  14,  220-329 
Acipenser,  21,  24 

huso,  22 

rubicundus,  22,  24-26 

ruthenus,  22 

sturio,  21 

Acipenseridse,  1,  21-29 
affinis,  Gambusia,  210,  215 
albus,    Parascaphirhynchus,    xcvii, 

28 

Alewives,  48 
Alligator-gar,    Ixxv,    Ixxxiv,    xciv, 

cii,  ciii,  35-36 
Alosa,  48,  49 

ohiensis,  49 
alosoides,  Hiodon,  43 
Ambloplites,  235,  242 

rupestris,  234,  243-244 
amblops,   Hybopsis,   99,   100,   101, 

165 

Amblyopsicte,  2,  202,  217-219 
Amblyopsis,  219 
Ameiurus,  176,  183,  184,  195 

lacustris,  183,  184-185 

melas,  184,  185,  188,  190-192 

natalis,  183,  185-186,  191 

nebulosus,    184,     186,     187-190, 

191,  192 
as  prey  of  lampreys,  7 

nigricans,  179,  184 

ponderosus,  179,  184 
American  Carp,  74 

or  Fresh-water  Eel,  59-60 

Perch,  276-278 

pike-perches,  271-275 
Amia,  38 

calva,  38-41 

—31  F 


Arniida?,  1,  37-41 
Ammocrypta,  271,  301 

pellucida,  cxii,  280,  301-303 
Anacanthini,  14,  330-332 
Anguilla,  59 

chrysypa,  59-60 
anguilla,  Ictalurus,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii, 

xciv,  cii,  ciii,  cxxv,  177,  179 
Anguillida3,  2,  58-60 
anisurum,  Moxostoma,  89,  93 
annularis,  Pomoxis,  237,  238,  240 
anogenus,  Notropis,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi, 

xciv,  xcvi,  ci,  ciii,  131,  132 
anomalum,  Campostoma,  cv,  cxiii, 

99,  100,  101, 110 

Aphredoderidffi,  2,  218,  220,  228-231 
Aphredoderus,  229 

sayanus,  cvii-cviii,  229-231 
Aplodinotus,  cxii,  323 

as  food  for  fishes,  275 

grunniens,  323-325 
Apodes,  14,  58-60 
Apomotis,  247 
Argyrosomus,  50,  53-54 

artedi,  54-55 

hoyi,  54,  55 

nigripinnis,  54,  55 

prognathus,  54,  55 

tullibee,  54,  55 
artedi,  Argyrosomus,  54 
asprella,  Crystallaria,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcv, 

xcvi,  xcvii,  300 
Aspro,  278 
aspro,  Hadropterus,  cxii,  280,  283, 

284,  286,  303 

Atherinidse,  2,  220,  226-228 
atherinoides,  Notropis,  99,  100,  101, 

131,  151 
atromaculatus,  Semotilus,  99,  100, 

121 
atronasus,  Rhinichthys,  160,  162 


343 


344 


INDEX 


aureolum,   Moxostoma.    cxii,    cxiii, 
89,  90,  93 

Banded  Darter,  Ixxxi,  xc,  xciii,  cvi, 

ex,  cxix,  304-306 
Bass,  Black,  cxxiv,  cxxvi,  7,  108, 

109,  233,  238,  247,  262 
as  food  for  fishes,  208,  275 
fishes  eaten  by,  97,  175,  270 
Calico,  240-241 

Large-mouthed  Black,  Ixxx,   xc, 
xcii,    cvi,    cxiii,    cxviii,    cxxv, 
264,  267-269 
Prairie,  39 

Rock,    Ixxix,    Ixxxix,    xciii,    ex, 
cxii,   cxviii,   cxxiv,   cxxv,   233, 
234,  235,  242,  243-244,  247,  250 
Sea,  318-322 

Small-mouthed  Black,  Ixxx, 
Ixxxix,     xcii,     cv,     cxii,     cxiii, 
cxviii,  cxxv,  108,  243,  263-266, 
267,  268,  269 
Strawberry,  241 
Striped,  cxxvi,  cxxvii,  319-320 
Warmouth,  245-247 
White,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xciii,  cvi,   ex, 
cxiii,    cxix,    cxxiv,    cxxv,   319- 
320,  322,  325 

Yellow,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xciii,  cvi,  ex, 
cxiii,  cxix,  cxxiv,  cxxv,  321- 
322,  325 

Big-eyed  Chub,  165-166 
Big-mouth  Buffalo,  68-70 
Billfish,  31-34 
Black  Bass,   cxxiv,  cxxvi,  7,   108, 

109,  233,  238,  247,  262 
as  food  for  fishes,  208,  275 
fishes  eaten  by,  97,  175,  270 
Large-mouthed,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcii, 
cvi,  cxiii,  cxviii,  cxxv,  267- 
269 

Small-mouthed,  Ixxx,  Ixxxix, 
xcii,  cv,  cxii,  cxiii,  cxviii, 
cxxv,  108,  244,  263-266,  267, 
268,  269 

Bullhead,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xcii, 
cvi,  cxiii,  cxv,  cxxv,  176,  185, 
188,  190-192 

Crappie,   Ixxix,   Ixxxix,  xcii, 
cxviii,  cxxv,  238,  240-241 


Black — continued 

-head  Minnow,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xcii, 
ex,  cxvi,  117-119 

-horse,  Ixxv,  Ixxxv,  xciv,  cii,  65-66 

-nosed  Dace,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xciii, 
162-163 

-sided  Darter,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcii,  cvi, 

cxviii,  286-288 
darters,  283-290 

Sucker,  66 
Blackfin,   Ixxvii,   Ixxxvii,   xcii,   cvi, 

cxvii,  154-156 

blennioides,  Diplesion,  cxii,  280,  292 
blennius,   Notropis,   cxii,   cxiii,  99, 

100,  101,  131,  137 
Blindfishes,  217-219 
Bloodsucker,  6 
Blue-breasted    Darter,    Ixxxi,    xc, 

xciii,  306 

Blue  Cat,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv,  cii, 
ciii,  cxxv,  178-179 

Fulton,  179,  181 

Herring,  48-49 

-spotted  Sunfish,  cxxv,  248-250 

Sunfish,  257-259 
Bluefin,  55 
Bluegill,    Ixxx,    Ixxxix,    xcii,    cxiii, 

cxviii,  cxxv,   234,  235.  237,  257- 

259 

Blunt-nosed    Carp,    Ixxvi,    Ixxxv, 
xciii,  cxv 

Minnow,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xcii,  cvi, 
cxvi,  119-121,  127 

River  Carp,  77-88 
Boleichthys,  271,  315 

fusiformis,   Ixxxi,  xci,  xciii,   cvi, 
ex,  cxiii,  cxix,  280, 281, 315-316 
Boleosoma,  271,  281,  294,  303 

camurum,    Ixxx,    xc,    xciii,    cvi, 
cxiii,  cxix,  280,  294,  298-300 

nigrum,  294-298 
Bowfin,  38-41 
Bowfins,  37-41 
Bream,  126-128 
Breams,  125-128 
breviceps,  Moxostoma,  cv,  89,  91 
Brindled  Stonecat,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii, 

xciv,  xcv,  cii,  cvi,  ex,  cxiii,  cxv, 

200-201 


INDEX 


345 


Brook  Lamprey,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xcv, 

xcvi,  xcvii,  xcviii,  11-12 
lampreys,  7 
Silverside,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xcii, 

cxiii,  cxvii,  227-228 
Stickleback,  Ixxix,  Ixxxviii,  xciv, 

ci,  ciii,  222-223 
Trout,  263 
Brown    Bullhead,    176,    185,    186, 

187-190,  192 
as  prey  of  lampreys,  7 
bubalus,  Ictiobus,  67,  68,  71,  72 
buccata,  Ericymba,  .Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii, 
xciii,  cii,  cvi,  ex,  cxiii,  cxvii,  99, 
100,  101, 156 

Buffalo,  Big-mouth,  68-70 
-fish,  62,  63,  67,  109 
as  food  for  fishes,  39,  63 
as  prey  of  lampreys,  7,  10 
-fishes,  cxiii,  cxxiv,  cxxvi,  62,  63, 

75 
Mongrel,   Ixxv,   Ixxxv,   xciv,   ex, 

cxv,  cxxv,  70-72 
Quillback,  72-73 
Razor-backed,  72-73 
Red-mouth,    Ixxv,    Ixxxv,    xciii, 

cxv,  cxxv,  68-70 
Round,  70-72 
Small-mouth,   Ixxv,   Ixxxv,   xciii, 

cxv,  cxxv,  72-73 

Bullhead,  Black,    Ixxviii,    Ixxxviii, 
xcii,  cvi,  cxiii,  cxv,  cxxv,  176, 
185,  188,  190-192 
Brown,   176,   185,   186,   187-190, 

192 

as  prey  of  lampreys,  7 
Common,    Ixxvii,    Ixxxviii,    xciii, 
cv,  ex,  cxiii,  cxv,  cxxv,  187-190 
Minnow,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi,  xcii,  cvi, 

cxvi,  128-130 
Slick,  186 
Speckled,  187-190 
Yellow,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xcii,  cvi, 
cxiii,  cxv,  cxxv,  176, 185-186, 
191,  192 

fishes  eaten  by,  175 
Bullheads,  cxii,  cxxiv,  173, 176,  183- 

192,  195 

as  food  for  fishes,  194,  275 
fishes  eaten  by,  63,  97,  270 


Bull-pouts,  cxxvi,  188 
Burbot,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xciv,  cii,  cxxv, 
331-332 

as  food  for  fishes,  57 

fishes  eaten  by,  270 
Burbots,  330-332 

Calico  Bass,  240-241 
calva,  Amia,  38 
Campostoma,  96,  103,  110 

anomalum,  cv,  cxiii,  99,  100,  101, 

110-112 

camurum,  Boleosoma,  Ixxx,  xc, 
xciii,  cvi,  cxiii,  cxix,  281,  294, 
298 

Etheostoma,  303,  306 
canadense    griseum,     Stizostedion, 

272,  274-275 

Stizostedion,  civ,  cv,  175,  272 
caprodes,  Percina,  280,  281,  285 
Carp,  cxxvi,  67,  104-110 
American,  74 
and  minnows,  94-171 
as  prey  of  lampreys,  10 
Blunt-nosed,   Ixxvi,   Ixxxv,   xciii, 

cxv 

River,  77-78 
Common  River,  76-77 
European,  cxxiv,  cxxv,  103,  104- 

110 
Lake,    Ixxvi,    Ixxxv,    xciii,    ciii, 

cv,  ex,  cxxv,  78-80 
-like  fishes,  61-171 
Quillback,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xciii,  cv, 

cxv,  78-79 
River,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxv,  xciii,  cxii,  cxv, 

cxxv,  77-78 
Silver,  78-79 
-suckers,  74-80 
carpio,  Carpiodes,  cxii,  75,  76 

Cyprinus,  104 
Carpiodes,  64,  74-75 
carpio,  cxii,  75,  76-77 
difformis,  cxii,  75,  77-78 
thompsoni,  civ,  75,  77,  79-80 
velifer,  cxii,  cxiii,  75,  77,  78-79 
castaneus,  Ichthyomyzon,  10 
Cat,  Blue,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv,  cii, 

ciii,  cxxv,  178-179 
Chuckle-headed,  178-179 


346 


IXDEX 


Cat — continued 

Duck-bill,  18 

Fulton,  178-179 

Mississippi,  179 

Morgan,  193-194 

Tadpole,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xcii,  cvi, 
cxv,  197-198 

Spoonbill,  16-20 

Yellow,  193-194 

cataractae,  Rhinichthys,  xcvii,  160 
Catfish,  109 

Great  Lake,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xcvi, 
xcvii,  ci,  ciii 

Lake,  cxxv 

of  the  lakes,  184-185 
Catfishes,  cxii,  cxxiv,  cxxvi,   172- 
201 

as  food  for  fishes,  268,  275 

as  prey  of  lampreys,  7,  10 
Catostomidae,  2,  61-94 
Catostomus,  64,  84 

catostomus,  84 

commersonii,  7,  84,  85-86 

nigricans,  cv,  62,  64,  84,  86-88 
Cave-fish,  Spring,  xcvii,  ci,  218-219 
cayuga  atrocaudalis,  Notropis, 
Ixxvii,  134 

Notropis,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi,  xciii,  cii, 
civ,  cvi,  ex,  cxiii,  cxvi,  99,  101, 
130  133 
Centrarchidae,  2,  63,  221,  232-269, 

320 
Centrarchus,  235,  241 

macropterus,  234,  241-242 
cepedianum,  Dorosoma,  45 
Chaenobryttus,  236,  245 

gulosus,  234,  245-247 
Channel-cat,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xcii, 

cvi,  cxiv,  cxxv,  180^183,  266 
Channel-cats,  175,  177-183 
chlora,  Cliola,  139 
Chologaster,  218 

papilliferus,  Ixxix,  Ixxxviii,  xcv, 

xcviii,  ci,  218-219 
Chondrostei,  13,  21-29 
Chrosomus,  103,  112 

erythrogaster,  101,  112-113 
chrysochloris,  Pomolobus,  48 
chrysops,  Roccus,  civ,  319 
chrysypa,  Anguilla,  59 


Chub,  Big-eyed,  165-166 
Creek,  121-123 
Flat-headed,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv, 

xcviii,  ci,  170-171 
Greased,  110-112 
River,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciii,   cv, 

cxvii,  167-170 
Silver,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv,  cii, 

cvi,  cxvii,  165-166 
Storer's,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciii,  cv, 

cxvii,  166-167 
Chub-sucker,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxv,  xciii,  cvi, 

ex,  cxiii,  cxv,  62,  81-82 
Chub-suckers,  80-82 
Chuckle-headed  Cat,  178-179 
Cisco,  54-55 

Mooneye,  55 
Ciscoes,  53-55 
Cliola,  103,  128 
chlora,  139 
vigilax,  99,  100,  101,  119,  128- 

130 

Clupeidae,  1,  42,  47-50 
clupeiformis,  Coregonus,  51 
Cod-like  fishes,  330-332 
codfishes,  330-332 
cceruleum,  Etheostoma,  cxii,  cxiii, 

280,  304,  309 

commersonii,  Catostomus,  7,  84,  85 
Common  Bullhead,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii, 
xciii,  cv,  ex,  cxiii,  cxv,  cxxv, 
187-190 

Pike,  cxxv,  207-209 
Red-horse,    Ixxvi,    Ixxxvi,    xcii, 

cxii,  cxiii,  cxv,  cxxv,  90-91 
River  Carp,  76-77 
Sculpin,  326-327 
Shiner,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xcii,  cvi, 

cxiii,  cxvi,  147-149 
Stonecat,  Ixxviii 
Sucker,    Ixxvi,    Ixxxv,    xcii,    cv, 

cxiii,  cxv,  cxxv,  62,  85-86 
Top-minnow,  Ixxix,  Ixxxviii,  xcii, 

cvi,  cxvii 
Whitefish,  51-53 
concolor,  Ichthyomyzon,  9 
Coregonus,  50,  51 
clupeiformis,  51-53 
quadrilateralis,  51,  53 


347 


cornutus,  Notropis,  cv,  cxii,  cxiii, 

99,  100,  131,  147 
corporalis,  Semotilus,  123 
Cottidse,  3,  221,  325-329 
Cottogaster,  271,  290,  303 

shumardi,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciii,  cii,  cxii, 

cxviii,  279,  290-291 
Cottus,  326 

ictalops,  326-327 

ricei,   Ixxxi,  xci,   xcvi,  xcvii,   ci, 

ciii,  326,  327-328 
Crappie,  cxxiv,  cxxvi,  cxxvii,  109 

Black,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xcii,  cxviii, 
cxxv,  238,  240-241 

Pale,  235,  239,  256 

Ringed,  239 

White,    Ixxix,    Ixxxix,    xcii,    cvi, 

cxvii,  cxxv,  238-239 
Crappies,  cxiii,  233,  235,  247-256 

fishes  eaten  by,  97,  270 
Creek  Chub,  121-123 
Cristivomer,  51,  55 

namaycush,  56-57 
Croaker,  323-325 
crysoleucas,  Abramis,  95,  99,  100, 

101,  126 
Crystallaria,  271,  300 

asprella,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcvi,  xcvii,  300- 

301 

Cushawn,  194 

cyanellus,  Lepomis,  235,  248 
Cycleptus,  64,  65 

elongatus,  65-66 
Cycloganoidea,  13,  37-41 
cyprinella,  Ictiobus,  67,  68,  71 
Cyprinidae,  2,  61,  62,  94-171 
Cyprinus,  104 

carpio,  104-110 

Dace  as  food  for  fishes,  332 

Black-nosed,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xciii, 

162-163 

Horned,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xcii,  cxvi, 
121-123 

fishes  eaten  by,  97 
Long-nosed,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xcv, 

xcviii,  ci,  160-161 
Red-bellied,   Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,   xciii, 

cv,  ex,  cxvi,  112-113 


Darter,  Banded,  Ixxxi,  xc,  xciii,  cvi, 
ex,  cxix,  304-306 

Black-sided,   Ixxx,  xc,  xcii,   cvi, 
cxviii,  286,  288 

Blue-breasted,  Ixxxi,  xc,  xciii,  306 

Fan-tailed,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xciii,  cvi, 
cxix,  313-314 

Green-sided,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciv,   cii, 
ex,  cxviii,  292-294 

Johnny,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcii,  cxix,  294- 
298 

Least,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xciii,  cxix,  317- 
318 

Rainbow,    Ixxxi,   xci,    xciii,    cvi, 
cxix,  309-311 

Sand,  Ixxxi,  xc,  xciii,  cvi,  cxix, 

279,301-303 
Darters,  cxii,  cxiii,  63,  270,  278-318 

Black-sided,  283-290 

Sand,  301 
diaphanus,  Fundulus,  civ,  210,  212 

menona,  Fundulus,  211 
difformis,  Carpiodes,  cxii,  75,  77 
Diplesion,  271,  291-292,  303 

blennioides,  cxii,  280,  292-294 
dispar,   Fundulus,   cxiii,   210,   212, 

216,  217 
dissimilis,  Hybopsis,  civ,  cv,  cxii, 

164 
Dogfish,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciii,  cvi,  ex, 

cxix,  cxxv,  cxxvii,  38-41,  203 
Dogfishes  eaten  by,  63,  97 
dolomieu,  Micropterus,  262,  263 
Dorosoma,  45 

cepedianum,  45-47 

as  food  for  fishes,  273 
Dorosomidse,  1,  42,  45^7 
Dough-belly,  110-112 
Drum,  cxxiv,  109 

Fresh-water,  cxxvi,  323-325 
Drums,  322-325 

river,  323 
Duck-bill  Cat,  18 
duquesnei,   Plaeopharynx,  Ixxvi, 

Ixxxvi,  xciv,  93 

Eel,  Ixxv,  Ixxxv,  xciv,  cxxv 
American,  59-60 
-cat,  cxxv 
Fresh-water,  59-60 
-pout,  331-332 


348 


INDEX 


Eels,  6,  58 

true,  58 
Elassoma,  231 

zonatum,  232 

Elassomidse,  2,  221,  231-232 
elongatus,  Cycleptus,  65 
emilise,  Opsopceodus,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi, 

xciii,  cvi,  cxvi,  99,  101,  124 
Ericymba,  104,  156 

buccata,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xciii,  cii, 
cvi,  ex,  cxiii,  cxvii,  99,  100,  101, 
156-158 
Erimyzon,  64,  80 

sucetta  oblongus,  81-82 
erythrogaster,  Chrosomus,  101,  112 
Esocidse,  2,  202,  205-209 
Esox,  205 

lucius,  205,  207-209 

masquinongy,  205,  209 
ohiensis,  209 

vermiculatus,  205,  206-207 
Etheostoma,  271,  303-304 

camurum,  303,  306 

cceruleum,  cxii,  cxiii,  280,  304, 
309-311 

flabellare,  280,  303,  304,  313-314 

iowae,  Ixxxi,  xc,  304,  306-307 

jessise,  cxxxi,  xc,  xcii,  cvi,  cxix, 
280,  304,  307-309,  310,  311 

obeyense,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xcv,  xcvii, 
ci,  ciii,  303,  304,  311-312 

squamiceps,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xcv,  xcvii, 
xcviii,  cii,  ciii,  cxix,  303,  304, 
312-313 

zonale,  civ,  cxii,  280,  303,  304-306 
Etheostominse,  270,  278-318 
Eucalia,  222 

inconstans,  222-223 
Eupomotis,  236,  247,  259 

gibbosus,  civ,  234,  247,  259,  260- 
262 

heros,    Ixxx,    Ixxxix,    xcv,    xcvii, 

xcviii,  ci,  ciii,  259-260 
European  Carp,  cxxiv,  cxxv,   103, 

104-110 
euryorus,    Lepomis,    Ixxix,    Ixxxix, 

xcvi,  248,  252 
Eventognathi,  61-171 
evermanni,  Hadropterus,  Ixxx,  xc, 

xciv,  xcvi,  283,  284 


evides,  Hadropterus,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcv, 

xcvi,  xcvii,  ci,  284,  288 
exilis,  Schilbeodes,  196,  199 

Fallfishes,  121 

Fan-tailed  Darter,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xciii, 

cvi,  cxix,  313-314 
Fathead,  117-119,  128-130 
Fatheads,  117 
Fiddler,  180-183 
Fine-scaled  Sucker,  85-86 
as  prey  of  lampreys,  7 

suckers,  83-88 
Fishes,  carp-like,  61-171 

cod-like,  330-332 

herring-like,  42 

limophagous,  cxiii 

pike-like,  202 

salmon-like,  42 

shad-like,  42 

spiny-rayed,  220-329 
Five-spined  sticklebacks,  222 
flabellare,    Etheostoma,    280,    303, 

304,  313 
Flat-belly,  194 
Flat-headed  Chub,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii, 

xciv,  xcviii,  ci,  170-171 
flavescens,  Perca,  civ,  276,  332 
flavus,  Noturus,  civ,  cv,  cxii,  194, 

200,  201 
Flier,  241-242 
Freckled  Stonecat,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii, 

xciii,  cii,  ciii,  198-199 
Fresh-water  Drum,  cxxvi,  323-325 
Fulton,  Blue,  179,  181 

Cat,  178-179 

White,  179 
Fundulus,  210,  211 

diaphanus,  civ,  210,  212 
menona,  211-212 

dispar,  cxiii,  210,  212-213,  216, 
217 

notatus,  210,  213-215,  216,  217 
furcatus,  Ictalurus,  177,  178,  184 
fusiformis,  Boleichthys,  Ixxxi,  xci, 

xciii,  cvi,  ex,  cxiii,  cxix,  280,  281, 

315 

Gadidse,  3,  330-332 
Gambusia,  207,  210,  215 
affinis,  210,  215-217 


INDEX 


349 


Gar,  Long-nosed,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciii, 
ex,  cxiv,  31-34 

Short-nosed,    Ixxv,   Ixxxiv,   xciii, 

cv,  ex,  cxiv,  34-35 
garmani,  Lepomis,  253 
Garpikes,  30-36 
Gars,  fishes  eaten  by,  97 
Gaspergou,  324 

Gasterosteidae,  1,  2,  220,  221-224 
gibbosus,  Eupomotis,  civ,  234,  247, 

259,  260 
gilberti,    Notropis,    Ixxvii,    Ixxxvi, 

xciii,  cvi,  ex,  cxii,  cxvi,  99, 101,  139 
Gizzard-shad,  Ixxv,  Ixxxv,  xcii, 
cxvii,  cxxv,  45-47,  63 

as  food  for  fishes,  63,  175,  268,  275 
gladius,  Psephurus,  15 
Goggle-eye,  243-244 
Golden  Shad,  cxxv,  48-49 

Shiner,    Ixxvi,    Ixxxvi,    xcii,    cvi, 

cxiii,  cxvi,  126-128 
Goujon,  193-194 
gracilis,  Platygobio,  170 

Uranidea,  328,  329 
Grass  Pike,    Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,    xciii, 

cvi,  cxvii,  206-207 
Gray  Pike,  274-275 
Greased  Chub,  110-112 
Greaser,  186 
Great  Lake  Catfish,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii, 

xcvi,  xcvii,  ci,  ciii 
Trout,  cxxv,  55,  56 

Mississippi  Catfish,  184 
Green-sided  Darter,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciv, 

cii,  ex,  cxviii,  292-294 
Green  Sunfish,   Ixxix,   Ixxxix,   xcii, 
cvi,    cxiii,    cxviii,    235,   246, 
248-250,  256 
fishes  eaten  by,  97 
Grindle,  38-41 
Grinnel,  39 

grunniens,  Aplodinotus,  323 
gulosus,  Chaenobryttus,  234,  245 
guttatus,  Percopsis,  civ,  cxii,  225 
gyrinus,  Schilbeodes,  176,  196,  197, 

200,  201 

Hadropterus,  271,  283-284,  303 
aspro,  cxii,  280,  283,  284,  286- 
288,  303 


Hadropterus — continued 

evermanni,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciv,  xcvi, 

284-285 
evides,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcv,  xcvi,  xcvii, 

ci,  284,  288-289 
ouachitse,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcv,  xcvii,  ci, 

ciii,  284,  288 

phoxocephalus,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciii,  cxii, 
cxiii,  cxviii,  280,  284,  285-286, 
287,  303,  316,  284 
scierus,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciv,  284,  289- 

290 

Hagfishes  and  lampreys,  5 
Haplomi,  14,  202-219 
Hare-lipped  Sucker,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi, 

xcv,  xcvii,  ci,  ciii 
Hemibranchii,  14,  220 
heros,  Eupomotis,  Ixxx,  Ixxxix,  xcv, 

xcvii,  xcviii,  ci,  ciii,  259 
Herring,  Blue,  48-49 

Lake,    Ixxv,    Ixxxv,    xcv,    xcvi, 

xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  cxxv,  54-55 
as  food  for  fishes,  56,  57 
-like  fishes,  42 
Toothed,  Ixxv,  Ixxxv,  xciii,  cxii, 

cxvii,  44-45 
Herrings,  47-50 
heterodon,  Notropis,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi, 

xcii,  cvi,  cxiii,  cxvi,  95,  99 
Hickory-shad,  45-47 

as  food  for  fishes,  273.     See    also 

Gizzard-shad 
Hiodon,  43 

alosoides,  43-44 
tergisus,  cxii,  43,  44-45 
Hiodontidae,  1,  42^5 
Hogmolly,  86-88 
Hogsucker,   Ixxvi,  Ixxxv,  xcii,   cv, 

cxii,  cxv,  62,  86-88 
Horned   Dace,   Ixxvi,   Ixxxvi,   xcii, 

cxvi,  121-123 
fishes  eaten  by,  97 
Pout,  183-192 
Horny-head,  167-170 
hoyi,  Argyrosomus,  54,  55 
hudsonius,  Notropis,  civ,  99,   100, 

101,  131,  141 

humilis,  Lepomis,  235,  248,  255 
Huro  nigricans,  268 
huso,  Acipenser,  22 


350 


Hybognathus,  103,  114 

nubila,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xciv,  xcvi, 
xcvii,  xcviii,  ex,  101,  114,  116- 
117 

nuchalis,  99,  100,  101,  114-115 
Hybopsis,  104,  163 
amblops,  99,  100,  101,  165-166 
dissimilis,  civ,  cv,  cxii,  164-165 
hyostomus,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv, 

cii,  163-164 
kentuckiensis,  civ,  cv,  cxii,  cxiii, 

99,  100,  101,  167-170 
storerianus,  99,  100,  166-167 
hyostomus,   Hybopsis,  Ixxviii, 

Ixxxvii,  xciv,  cii,  163 
Hyperoartii,  5-12 

Ichthyomyzon,  6.  9 

castaneus,  10 

concolor,  9-10 
ictalops,  Cottus,  326 
Ictalurus,  174,  176,  177 

anguilla,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv,  cii, 
ciii,  cxxv,  177,  179-180 

furcatus,  177,  178-179,  184 

punctatus,  177,  180-183 
Ictiobus,  64,  66 

bubalus,  67,  68,  71,  72-73 

cyprinella,  67,  68-70,  71 

urus,  68,  70^72 
illecebrosus,  Notropis,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi, 

xciv,  ex,  cxvi,  101,  131,  140 
inconstans,  Eucalia,  222 
interrupta,  Morone,  civ,  320,  321 
iowse,  Etheostoma,  Ixxxi,   xc,   304, 

306 
ischyrus,    Lepomis,    Ixxix,    Ixxxix, 

xciv,  cii,  248,  250 
Isospondyli,  14,  42-57 

Jack-salmon,  272-274 

jejunus,    Notropis,    Ixxvii,    Ixxxvii, 

xciii,  cvi,  cxvi,  99,  100,  131,  150 
jessiae,  Etheostoma,  Ixxxi,  xc,  xcii, 

cvi,  cxix,  280,  304,  307,  310,  311 
Johnny  Darter,  Ixxv,  xc,  xcii,  cxix, 

294-298 
Jumper,  268 


kentuckiensis, Hybopsis,  civ,  cv,  cxii 

cxiii,  99,  100,  101,  167 
Killifishes,  cxiii,  210-217 
kumlienii,  Uranidea,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xcv, 

xcvi,  xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  326,  328 

Labidesthes,  227 

sicculus,  cxiii,  227-228 
Labrus  salmoides,  268 
lacustris,  Ameiurus,  183,  184 
Lagochila,  64,  94 

Lake  Carp,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxv,  xciii,  ciii, 
cv,  ex,  cxxv,  79-80 

Catfish,  cxxv 

Herring,  Ixxv,  Ixxxv,  xcv,  xcvi, 
xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  cxxv,  54-5£ 

Sturgeon,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciv,  cxxiv, 
cxxv,  24-26 

Trout,    Ixxv,    Ixxxv,    xcv,    xcvi, 

xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  263 
Lamper  eels,  6 
Lamperns,  6 
Lampers,  6 
Lampetra,  6,  9,  11 

planeri,  7,  8 

wilderi,  xcvii,  7,  8,  11-12 
Lamprey,  Brook,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xcv, 
xcvi,  xcvii,  xcviii,  11-12 

Sea,  6 

Silvery,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciii,  9-10 

Small  Black,  11-12 
Lampreys,  5-12,  25 

brook,  7,  11 

river,  9 
Large-mouthed   Black   Bass,    Ixxx, 

xc,  xcii,  cvi,  cxiii,  cxviii,   cxxv, 

264,  267-269 
Least  Darter,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xciii,  cxix, 

317-318 
Leeches  as  food  of  Brown  Bullhead, 

188 

Lemon-fin,  145-147 
Lepisosteidae,  1,  30-36 
Lepisosteus,  31 

osseus,  31-34 

platostomus,  31,  34-35 

tristcechus,  31,  35-36 


INDEX 


351 


Lepomis,  234,  236,  247-248 

cyanellus,  235,  248-250 

euryoms,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xciv,  xcvi, 
248,  252-  253 

garmani,  253 

humilis,  235,  248,  255-257 

ischyrus,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xciv,  cii, 

248,  250-251 
-  megalotis,  234,  248,  254-255 

miniatus,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xciii, 
cxviii,  234,  248,  253 

pallida,  268 

pallidus,  234,  237,  248,  257-259 

symmetricus,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xciv, 

cii,  ciii,  248,  251-252 
Leptops,  176,  193 

olivaris,  cxii,  193-194 
limi,  Umbra,  203 
Ling,  331-332 

Little  Pickerel,  cxxv,  206-207 
Log-perch,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciii,  cxviii, 

282-283 

Log-perches,  281-283 
Long-eared    Sunfish,    Ixxx,    Ixxxix, 

xciii,  cvi,  ex,  cxiii,  cxviii,    cxxv, 

234,  235,  254-255 
Long-nosed    Dace,    Ixxvii,    Ixxxvii, 
xcv,  xcviii,  ci,  160-161 

Gar,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciii,  ex,  cxiv, 
31-34 

Sucker,  Ixxxv,  xciv,  xcvi,  xcvii, 

ci,  ciii,  84 
Longjaw,  55 
Loricati,  221 
Lota,  330 

maculosa,  331-332 
lucius,  Esox,  205,  207 
lutrensis,  Notropis,  99,  100,  101, 

131,  143 
lythrochloris,  Xenotis,  255 

Mackinaw  Trout,  56 
macropterus,  Centrarchus,  234,  241 
maculosa,  Lota,  331 
marinus,  Petromyzon,  6 

unicolor,  Petromyzon,  7 
Marsipobranchii,  5-12 
masquinongy,  Esox,  205,  209 

ohiensis,  Esox,  209 


megalotis,  Lepomis,  234,  248,  254 
melanops,  Minytrema,  83 
melas,  Ameiurus,  184,  185,  188,  190 
menona  diaphanus,  Fundulus,  211 
Menona  Top-minnow,  Ixxix, 

Ixxxviii,    xciii,    cii,    ciii,    cv,    ex, 
cxvii,  211-212 
Microperca,  271,  317 

punctulata,  cxiii,  280,  317-318 
Micropterus,  236,  262 
dolomieu,  262,  263-266 
salmoides,  262,  267-269 
Miller's   Thumb,    Ixxxi,    xci,   xciii, 

xcvi,  cvi,  326-327 
thumbs,  326-328 
miniatus,    Lepomis,    Ixxix,    Ixxxix, 

xciii,  cxviii,  234,  248,  253 
Minnow,  Black-head,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi, 

xcii,  ex,  cxvi,  117-119 
Blunt-nosed,   Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,   xcii, 

cvi,  cxvi,  119-121,  127 
Bullhead,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi,  xcii,  cvi, 

cxvi,  128-130 
Perch,  281 
Rosy-faced,  153-154 
Silver-mouthed,  156-158 
Silvery,   Ixxvi,   Ixxxvi,   xcii,   cvi, 

cxvi,  114-115 
Spot-tailed,   Ixxvii,   Ixxxvii,   xcii, 

cvi,  ex,  cxvi,  141-143 
Steel-colored,  145-147 
Straw-colored,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi,  xcii, 

cvi,  cxvi,  137-138 
Sucker-mouthed,   Ixxvii,   Ixxxvii, 

xcii,  cxvii,  158-160 
Minnows,  cxii,  cxiii 
and  carp,  94-171 
as  food  for  fishes,  33,  34,  39,  44, 

194,  207,  228,  230,  268,  273 
sucker-mouthed,  158 
Minytrema,  64,  82 

melanops,  83 

mirabilis,  Phenacobius,  99,  100,  158 
Mississippi  Cat,  179 

Catfish,  Great,  184 
Missouri  Sucker,  cxxv,  65-66 
miurus,  Schilbeodes,  176,  196,  200 
Mongrel  Buffalo,  Ixxv,  Ixxxv,  xciv, 
ex,  cxv,  cxxv,  70-72 


352 


IXDEX 


Mooneye,    Ixxv,    Ixxxiv,    xciv,    cii, 
ciii,  44 

Cisco,  55 

"Northern,  cxxv,  43-44 
Mooneyes,  42-45 
Morgan  Cat,  193-194 
Morone,  318,  320 

interrupta,  civ,  320,  321-322 
Moxostoma,  64,  88,  89,  93 

anisurum,  89-90,  93 

aureolum,  cxii,  cxiii,  89,  90-91,  93 

breviceps,  cv,  89,  91-92 
Mud-cat,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xciii,  cvi, 
cxii,  cxv,  cxxv,  193-194 

fishes  eaten  by,  97,  175 
Mud-jack,  39 
Mud-minnow,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xciv, 

cxiii,  cxvii,  203-205 
Mudfish,  39,  203-205 
Mudfishes,  202-205 
Muskallunge,  Ixxix,  cxxxviii,  xciv, 

ci,  ciii,  209 

Namaycush,  56 
namaycush,  Cristivomer,  56 
natalis,  Ameiurus,  183,  185,  191 
nebulosus,  Ameiurus,  7,   184,   186, 

187,  191,  192 

Nematognathi,  14,  172-201 
Nigger-belly,  194 
Nigger-lips,  180 
nigricans,  Ameiurus,  179,  184 

Catostomus,  cv,  62,  64,  84,  86 

Huro,  268 

nigripinnis,  Argyrosomus,  54,  55 
nigrum,  Boleosoma,  294 
Nine-spined  Stickleback,  Ixxix, 

Ixxxix,    xciv,    xcvi,    xcvii,    ci, 
ciii,  224 

sticklebacks,  224 
nocturnus,  Schilbeodes,  196,  198 
Northern  Mooneye,  cxxv,  43-44 

Sucker,  84 

notatus,  Fundulus,  210,  213,  216, 
217 

Pimephales,   cvii,   99,    100,    101, 

117,  119,  127 
Notropis,  96,  103,  130-131 

anogenus,    Ixxvii,    Ixxxvi,    xciv, 
xcvi,  ci,  ciii,  131,  132-133 


Notropis — continued 

atherinoides,  99,   100,   101,   131, 

151-153 
blennius,  cxii,  cxiii,  99,  100,  101, 

131,  137-138 

cayuga,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xciii,  cii, 
civ,  cvi,  ex,  cxiii,  cxvi,  99, 
101,  130,  133 

atrocaudalis,  Ixxvii,  134 
cornutus,  cv,  cxii,  cxiii,  99,  100, 

101,  131,  147-148 
gilberti,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi,  xciii,  cvi, 

ex,  cxii,  cxvi,  99,  101,  131,  139- 

140 
heterodon,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi,  xcii,  cvi, 

cxiii,  cxvi,  95,  99,  100, 101,  130, 

131,  134-136 
hudsonius,  civ,  99,  100,  101,  131, 

141-143 
illecebrosus,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi,  xciv, 

ex,  cxvi,  101,  131,  140-141 
jejunus,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xciii,  cvi, 

cxvi,  99,  100,  131,  150-151 
lutrensis,  99,  100,  101,  131,  143- 

145 
phenacobius,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvi,  xciv, 

xcvi,  ci,  131,  138-139 
pilsbryi,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv,  xcvi, 

ci,  ciii,  131,  149 
rubrifrons,    Ixxvii,    Ixxxvii,    xci, 

xciii,    cii,    civ,    cv,    ex,    cxii, 

cxiii,  cxvii,  131,  153-154 
scylla,  139 
umbratilis,  99,  100,  131 

atripes,  154-156 
whipplii,  99,  100,  101,  131,  145- 

147 
Noturus,  176,  194 

flavus,   civ,   cv,    cxii,    176,    194- 

196,  200,  201 

nubila,  Hybognathus,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi, 
xciv,  xcvi,  xcvii,  xcviii,  ex,  101, 
114,  116 

nuchalis,  Hybognathus,  99,  100, 
101,  114 

obeyense,    Etheostoma,   Ixxxi,   xci, 

xcv,  xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  303,  304,  311 
ohiensis,  Alosa,  49 
Ohio  Shad,  49-50 


INDEX 


353 


olivaris,  Leptops,  cxii,  193  . 
Opsopceodus,  103,  124 

emiliae,   Ixxvi,   Ixxxvi,   xciii,   cvi, 

cxvi,  99,  101,  124-125 
Orange-spotted  Sunfish,  Ixxx,  Ixxxix, 

xcii,  cvi,  cxviii,  255-257 
osseus,  Lepisosteus,  31 
ouachitse,    Hadropterus,    Ixxx,    xc, 

xcv,  xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  284,  288 

Paddle-fish,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciii,  cii, 

cxxiv,  cxxv,  16-20 
Paddle-fishes,  15-20 
Pale  Crappie,  235,  237,  256 
pallida,  Lepomis,  268 
pallidus,   Lepomis,   234,   237,   248, 
257 

Platygobio,    171 
papilliferus,  Chologaster,  Ixxix, 

Ixxxviii,  xcv,  xcviii,  ci,  218 
Parascaphirhynchus,  24,  28 

albus,  xcvii,  28-29 
Pavement-toothed  Red-horse,  92 
pellucida,   Ammocrypta,   cxii,   280, 

301 
Perca,  248,  270,  275-276 

flavescens,  civ,  276-278,  332 
Percesoces,  14,  220 
Perch,  American,  276-278 

as  food  for  fishes,  192,  332 

Minnow,  281 

Ringed,  276-278 

River,  275-276,  277 

White,  cxxvi,  323-325 

Yellow,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcii,  cii,  cvi,  ex, 
cxiii,  cxviii,  cxxvi,  cxxvii,  248, 
270,  276-278,  332 
as  food  for  fishes,  332 
fishes  eaten  by,  97,  270 
Perches,  269-318 
Percida;,  3,  221,  269-318 
Percina,  271,  281 

caprodes,  280,  282-283,  285 
Percoidei,  220 

Percopsida?,  1,  2,  220,  225-226 
Percopsis,  225 

guttatus,  civ,  cxii,  225-226 
Petromyzon,  6 

marinus,  6 
unicolor,  7 


Petromyzonidse,  1,  5-12 
Phenacobius,  104,  158 

mirabilis,  99,  100,  158-160 
phenacobius,  Notropis,  Ixxvii, 

Ixxxvi,  xciv,  xcvi,   ci,    131,    138 
phoxocephalus,  Hadropterus,  Ixxx, 

xc,  xciii,   cxii,  cxiii,   cxviii,   280, 

284,  285,  287,  303,  316 
Pickerel,  207-209 

fishes  eaten  by,  97 

Little,  cxxv,  206-207 
Pigmy  Sunfish,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xcv, 
xcvii,  xcviii,  ci,  ciii,  232 

sunfishes,  231-232 
Pike,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xciii,  cii,  ciii, 
cv,  ex,  266 

Common,  cxxv,  207-209 

fishes  eaten  by,  63 

Grass,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xciii,  cvi, 
cxvii,  206-207 

Gray,  274-275 

-like  fishes,  202 

-perch,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciii,  cxviii,  272- 
274 

-perches,  American,  271-275 

Wall-eyed,  cxxiv,  cxxv,  270,  272- 

274 

fishes  eaten  by,  97,  273 
Pikes,  205-209 
pilsbryi,   Notropis,   Ixxvii,   Ixxxvii, 

xciv,  xcvi,  ci,  eiii,  131,  149 
Pimephales,  103,  117 

notatus,  cvii,  99,  100,  101,  117, 
119-121,  127 

promelas,  99,  100,  101,  117-119 
Pirate-perch,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xciii,  cvi, 

ex,  cxiii,  cxvii,  229-231 
Pirate-perches,  228-231 
Pisces,  13-332 
Placopharynx,  64,  92 

duquesnei,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xciv,  93- 

94 

planeri,  Lampetra,  7,  8 
platorhynchus,  Scaphirhynchus,   27 
platostomus,  Lepisosteus,  31,  34 
Platygobio,  104,  170 

gracilis,  170-171 

pallidus,  171 
Plectospondyli,  14 
Pceciliidse,  1,  2,  202,  210-217 


354 


INDEX 


Polyodon,  16 

spathula,  15,  16-20 

Polyodontidse,  1,  15-20 

Pomolobus,  48 

chrysochloris,  48-49 

Pomoxis,  235,  237-238 
annularis,  237,  238-240 
sparoides,  235,  237,  238,  240-241 

ponderosus,  Ameiurus,  179,  184 

Pout,  Horned,  183-192 

Prairie  Bass,  39 

prognathus,  Argyrosomus,  54,  55 

promelas,  Pimephales,  99,  100,  101, 
117 

Psephurus  gladius,  15 

Pseudoscaphirhynchus,  22 

Pumpkinseed,  or  Pumpkinseed  Sun- 
fish,  Ixxx,  Ixxxix,  xcii,  cv,  ex,  cxiii, 
cxviii,  cxxv,  234,  259,  260-262 

punctatus,  Ictalurus,  177,  180 

punctulata,  Microperca,  cxiii,  280, 
317 

pungitius,  Pygosteus,  xcvi,  224 

Pygosteus,  222,  224 
pungitius,  xcvi,  224 

quadrilateralis,  Coregonus,  51,  53 
Quillback  Buffalo,  72-73 

Carp,  or  Quillback,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxv, 
xciii,  cv,  cxv,  78-79 

Rabbit-mouth  Sucker,  94 
Rainbow  Darter,    Ixxxi,    xci,    xciii, 

cvi,  cxix,  309-311 
Razor-backed  Buffalo,  72-73 
Red-bellied    Dace,    Ixxvi,    Ixxxvi, 

xciii,  cv,  ex,  cxvi,  112-113 
Red-horse,  cxxiv,  88-92 

Common,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xcii,  cxii, 
cxiii,  cxv,  cxxv,  90-91 

Pavement-toothed,  92 

Short-headed,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xciii, 

cv,  ex,  cxv,  cxxv,  91-92 
Red-mouth    Buffalo,    Ixxv,    Ixxxv, 

xciii,  cxv,  cxxv,  68-70 
Red  Sturgeon,  24-26 

Sucker,  84 
Redeye,  243-244 
Redfin,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xcii,  ex,  cxvi, 

143-145 


Rhinichthys,  104,  160 
atronasus,  160,  162-163 
cataractse,  xcvii,  160-161 
Rhomboganoidea,  13,  30-36 
ricei,  Cottus,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xcvi,  xcvii, 

ci,  ciii,  326,  327 
Ringed  Crappie,  239 

Perch,  276-278 
River  Carp,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxv,  xciii,  cxv, 

cxxv,  76-77 
Chub,  Ixxviii,   Ixxxvii,  xciii,   cv, 

cxvii,  167-170 
drums,  323 
lampreys,  9 
Perch,  275-276,  277 
Roach,  126-128 
Roccus,  318,  319 

chrysops,  civ,  319-320 
Rock  Bass,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xciii,  ex, 
cxii,   cxviii,   cxxiv,   cxxv,   233, 
234,   235,   242,   243-244,   246, 
247,  250 
Sturgeon,  24-26 
Rosy-faced  Minnow,  153-154 
Round  Buffalo,  70-72 

Sunfish,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xciv,  xcv, 
ci,  ciii,  cvi,  cxiii,  cxviii,  234, 
237,  241-242 

rubicundus,  Acipenser,  22,  24 
rubrifrons,  Notropis,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii, 
xciii,  cii,  civ,  cv,  ex,  cxii,  cxiii, 
cxvii,  101,  131,  153 
rupestris,  Ambloplites,  234,  243 
ruthenus,  Acipenser,  22 

salmoides,  Labrus,  268 

Micropterus,  262,  267 
Salmon-like  fishes,  42 
Salmon-trout,  56 
Salmonida3,  2,  42,  50-57 
SalmopercsB,  14,  22 
Salvelinus,  51 

Sand  Darter,  Ixxxi,  xc,  xciii,   cvi, 
cxix,  279,  301-303 

darters,  301 

-pike,  cxxv,  274-275 
fishes  eaten  by,  17 
Sauger,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciii,  cii,  cv,  ex, 

cxviii,  270,  274-275 
sayanus,  Aphredoderus,  cvii,  229 


INDEX 


355 


Scaphirhynchus,  24,  26 

platorhynchus,  27-28 
Schilbeodes,  176,  196 

exilis,  196,  199-200 

gyrinus,  176,  196,  197-198,  200, 
201 

miurus,  176,  196,  200-201 

nocturnus,  196,  198-199 
Scigenidae,  3,  221,  322-325 
scierus,  Hadropterus,  Ixxx,  xc,  xciv, 

284;  289 

Sculpin,  Common,  326-327 
Sculpins,  325-329 
scylla,  Notropis,  139 
Sea  Bass,  318-322 

Lamprey,  6 

Selachostomi,  13,  15-20 
Semotilus,  104,  121 

atromaculatus,  99,  100,  121-123 

corporalis,  123 
Serranidse,  2,  221,  318-322 
Shad,  49 

as  food  for  fishes,  60,  173 

Golden,  cxxv,  48-49 

-like  fishes,  42 

Ohio,  49-50 
Sheatfish,  173 

Sheepshead,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xciii,  cxii, 
cxix,  cxxiv,  cxxv,  cxxvi,  323- 
325 

as  food  for  fishes,  275 
'     fishes  eaten  by,  63 
Shiner,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xcii,  cvi,  cxvi, 
151-153 

Common,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii,  xcii,  cvi, 
cxiii,  cxvi,  147-149 

Golden,   Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,   xcii,   cvi, 
cxiii,  cxvi,  126-128 

Spotted,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv,  cv, 

ex,  cxvii,  164-165 
Short-headed  Red-horse,   Ixxvi, 

Ixxxvi,  xciii,  cv,  ex,   cxv,  cxxv, 

91-92 
Short-nosed  Gar,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciii, 

cv,  ex,  cxiv,  34-35 
Shovel-cat,  18 
Shovel-fish,  18 

Shovel-nosed  Sturgeon,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv, 
xciv,  cii,  cxxiv,  cxxv,  27-28 

sturgeons,  22,  26 


shumardi,    Cottogaster,    Ixxx,    xc, 

xciii,  cii,  cxii,  cxviii,  279,  290 
sicculus,  Labidesthes,  cxiii,  227 
Silurida,  2,  172-201 
Silver  Carp,  78^79 

Chub,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv,  cii, 
cvi,  cxvii,  165-166 

-mouthed  Minnow,  156-158 
Silverfin,   Ixxvii,   Ixxxvii,  xcii,   cvi, 

cxvi,  145-147 
Silverside,  Brook,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xcii, 

cxiii,  cxvii,  227-228 
Silversides,  226-228 
Silvery  Lamprey,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciii, 
9-10 

Minnow,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xcii,  cvi, 

cxvi,  114-115 

Skipjack,  Ixxv,  Ixxxv,  xciii,  48-49 
Slender  Stonecat,   Ixxviii,   Ixxxviii, 

xciv,  199-200 
Slick  Bullhead,  1861 
Small-mouth  Buffalo,.  Ixxv,  Ixxxv, 
xciii,  cxv,  cxxv,  72-73 

Black  Bass,  Ixxx,  Ixxxix,  xcii,  cv, 
cxii,  cxiii,  cxviii,  cxxv,  108,  243, 
263-266,  267,  268,  269 
Soldier-fish,  309-311 
Spade-fish,  18 

sparoides,Pomoxis,  235, 237, 238, 240 
spathula,  Polyodon,  15,  16 
Speckled  Bullhead,  187-190 
Spiny-rayed,  fishes,  220-329 
Spoonbill,  cxxvi,  17 

Cat,  16-20 

Spoonbills  as  prey  of  lampreys,  7,  10 
Spot-tailed  Minnow,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii, 

xcii,  cvi,  ex,  cxvi,  141-143 
Spotted  Shiner,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciv, 
cv,  ex,  cxvii,  164-165 

Sucker,  cxxv,  83 
Spring  Cave-fish,  218-219 
squamiceps,  Etheostoma,  Ixxxi,  xci, 

xcv,  xcvii,  xcviii,  cii,   ciii,  cxix, 

303,  304,  312 

Steel-colored  Minnow,  145-147 
Sterlet,  22 

Stickleback,  Brook,  Ixxix,  Ixxxviii, 
xciv,  ci,  ciii,  222-223 

Nine-spined,  Ixxix,   Ixxxix,  xciv, 
xcvi,  xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  224 


356 


INDEX 


Sticklebacks,  221-224 
five-spined,  222 
nine-spined,  224 
Stizostedion,  270,  271-272 
canadense,  civ,  cv,  175,  272 

griseum,  272,  274-275 
vitreum,  272-274 
Stonecat,  Ixxxviii,  xciii,  cii,  cv,  ex, 

cxii,  cxv,  194-196 
Brindled,    Ixxviii,    Ixxxviii,   xciv, 
xcv,  cii,  cvi,  ex,  cxiii,  cxv,  200- 
201 

Common,  Ixxviii 
Freckled,    Ixxviii,    Ixxxviii,    xciii, 

cii,  ciii,  198-199 
Slender,    Ixxviii,    Ixxxviii,    xciv, 

199-200 

Stonecats,  cxiii,  173,  175,  176 
Stone-roller,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxvi,  xcii,  cv, 

cxvi,  62,  86-88,  110-112 
Stone-rollers,  110-112 
storerianus,  Hybopsis,  99,  100,  166 
Storer's  Chub,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxvii,  xciii, 

cv,  cxvii,  166-167 
Straw-colored  Minnow,  Ixxvii, 

Ixxxvi,  xcii,  cvi,  cxvi,  137-138 
Strawberry  Bass,  241 
Striped  Bass,  cxxvi,  cxxvii,  319-321 
Sucker,   Ixxvi,   Ixxxv,   xciii,   cvi, 

cxiii,  cxv,  62,  83 
Top-minnow,  Ixxix,  Ixxxviii,  xcii, 

cxvii 
Sturgeon,  Lake,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciv, 

cxxiv,  cxxv,  24-26 
Red,  24-26 
Rock,  24-26 
Shovel-nosed,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xciv, 

cii,  cxxiv,  cxxv,  27-28 
White,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xcv,  xcvii, 

28-29 
Sturgeons,  21-29 

shovel-nosed,  22,  26 
sturio,  Acipenser,  21 
sucetta  oblongus,  Erimyzon,  81 
Sucker,  Common,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxv,  xcii, 

cv,  cxiii,  cxv,  cxxv,  62,  85-86 
Black,  66 
Fine-scaled,  85-86 
as  prey  of  lampreys,  7 


Sucker — continued 

Hare-lipped,    Ixxvi,    Ixxxvi,    xcv, 

xcvii,  ci,  ciii 
Long-nosed,    Ixxxv,    xciv,    xcvi, 

xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  84 
Missouri,  cxxv,  65-66 
-mouthed  Minnow,  Ixxvii,  Ixxxvii, 

xcii,  cxvii,  158-160 
Northern,  84 
Rabbit-mouth,  94 
Red,  84 

Spotted,  cxxv,  83 
Striped,   Ixxvi,   Ixxxv,   xciii,   cvi, 

cxiii,  cxv,  62,  83 
Sweet,  81 
White-nosed,  Ixxvi,   Ixxxv,  xciii, 

cv,  cxxv,  89-90 

Suckers,  cxi,  cxxiv,  61-94,  109 
as  food  for  fishes,  63 
fine-scaled,  84-88 
Sunfish,  63,  108,  109 
Blue,  257-259 

Blue-spotted,  cxxv,  248-250 
Green,    Ixxix,    Ixxxix,    xcii,    cvi, 
cxiii,  cxviii,  235, 246, 248-250 

fishes  eaten  by,  97 
Long-eared,  Ixxx,  Ixxxix,  xciii,  cvi, 

ex,  cxiii,  cxviii,  cxxv,  234,  235, 

254-255 
Orange-spotted,  Ixxx,  Ixxxix,  xcii, 

cvi,  cxviii,  255-257 
Pigmy,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xcv,  xcvii, 

xcviii,  ci,  ciii,  232 
Pumpkinseed,  259,  260-262 
Round,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xciv,  xcv, 

ci,  ciii,  cvi,  cxiii,  cxviii,   234, 

237,  241-242 
Sunfishes,  cxii,  cxiii,  cxxiv,  cxxvi, 

cxxvii,  232-269 
as  food  for  fishes,  192,  194,  207, 

208,  273,  275,  320 
fishes  eaten  by,  63,  270 
Pigmy,  231-232 
Sweet  Sucker,  81 

symmetricus,  Lepomis,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix, 
xciv,  cii,  ciii,  248,  251 

Tadpole  Cat,  Ixxviii,  Ixxxviii,  xcii, 

cvi,  cxv,  197-198 
Teleostomi,  13 


357 


tergisus,  Hiodon,  cxii,  43,  44 
thompsoni,  Carpiodes,  civ,  75,  77, 

79 
Toothed  Herring,  Ixxv,  Ixxxv,  xciii, 

cxii,  cxvii,  44-45 
lop-minnow,  213-215  9 

,     as  food  for  fishes,  207 

Common,  Ixxix,  Ixxxviii,  xcii,  cvi, 

cxvii 
Menona,  Ixxix,  Ixxxviii,  xciii,  cii, 

ciii,  cv,  ex,  cxvii,  211-212 
Striped,  Ixxix,  Ixxxviii,  xcii,  cxvii 
Viviparous,  Ixxix,  Ixxxviii,  xciv, 

cii,  ciii,  cvi,  cxvii,  215-217 
Top-minnows,  cxii,  210,  211 
tristcechus,  Lepisosteus,  31,  35 
Trout,  108,  266,  269 
as  food  for  fishes,  327 
Brook,  263 

Great  Lake,  cxxv,  55,  56 
Lake,    Ixxv,    Ixxxv,    xcv,    xcvi, 

xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  263 
Mackinaw,  56 

-perch,    Ixxix,    Ixxxix,    xciii,    cii, 
ciii,  cv,  ex,  cxii,  cxvii,  225-226 
-perches,  225-226 
Tullibee,  55 

tullibee,  Argyrosomus,  54,  55 
Typhlichthys,  219 

Umbra,  203 

limi,  203-205 
umbratilis  atripes,  Notropis,  154 

Notropis,  99,  100,  131 
Umbridffi,  2,  202-205 
Uranidea,  326,  328 

gracilis,  328,  329 

kumlienii,   Ixxxi,   xci,   xcv,  xcvi, 

xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  326,  328-329 
urus,  Ictiobus,  68,  70 

velifer,  Carpiodes,  cxii,  cxiii,  75,  77, 

78 

vermiculatus,  Esox,  205,  206 
vigilax,  Ciiola,  99,  100,  101,  119,  128 
vitreum,  Stizostedion,  272 
Viviparous  Top-minnow,  Ixxix, 

Ixxxviii,  xciv,  cii,  ciii,  cvi,  cxvii, 

215-217 


Wall-eyed  Pike,  cxxiv,  cxxv,  270, 

272-274 

fishes  eaten  by,  97,  273 
Warmouth,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xcii,  cvi, 
cxiii,  cxviii,  cxxv,  234,  235,  245- 
247,  250,  261 
Wels,  173 
whipplii,  Notropis,  99, 100, 101, 131, 

145 

White  Bass,   Ixxxi,   xci,  xciii,   cvi, 
ex,  cxiii,  cxix,  cxxiv,  cxxv,  319- 
320,  322,  325 
Crappie,  Ixxix,  Ixxxix,  xcii,  cvi, 

cxiii,  cxvii,  cxxv,  238-239 
Fulton,  179 
-nosed  Sucker,  Ixxvi,  Ixxxv,  xciii, 

cxv,  cxxv,  89-90 
Perch,  cxxvi,  323-325 
Sturgeon,  Ixxv,  Ixxxiv,  xcv,  xcvii, 

28-29 
Whitefish,   Ixxv,   Ixxxv,  xcv,   xcvi, 

xcvii,  ci,  ciii,  cxxv,  54,  55 
as  food  for  fishes,  56,  57,  332 
Common,  51-53 
Whitefishes,  51,  266 
wilderi,  Lampetra,  xcvii,  7,  8,  11 

Xenotis  lythrochloris,  255 

Yellow  Bass,  Ixxxi,  xci,  xciii,  cvi, 
ex,  cxiii,  cxix,  cxxiv,  cxxv,  321- 
322,  325 

Bullhead,    Ixxviii,    Ixxxviii,    xcii, 
cvi,  cxiii,  cv,  cxxv,  176,  185- 
186,  191,  192 
fishes  eaten  by,  175 
Cat,  193-194 

Perch,  Ixxx,  xc,  xcii,  cii,  cvi,  ex, 
cxiii,    cxviii,    cxxv,    cxxvi, 
cxxvii,  248,  270,  276-278,  332 
as  food  for  fishes,  332 
fishes  eaten  by,  97,  270 

zonale,  Etheostoma,  civ,  cxii,  280, 

303,  304 
zonatum,  Elassoma,  232 


DATE  DUE 


DEMCO  38- 


Forbes,  Stephen  Alfred 
The  fishes  of  Illinois, 


D  000  307  780  7 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

305  De  Neve  Drive  -  Parking  Lot  17  •  Box  951388 

LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90095-1388 
Return  this  material  to  the  library  from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


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ITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

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